The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Expressed Gratitude to the Leadership and Staff of the Astana Akimat for Their Contribution to the Preparation of the Visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

December 22, 2025. Astana. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the city akimat and met with representatives of the executive authorities of the capital and employees of the state institution.

The archpastor was accompanied by the Dean of the city parishes, Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), the Dean of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Archpriest Sergiy Kaliev, and the Metropolitan’s assistant I. Yatsenko.

The Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the Deputy Akim of Astana, N. Zh. Nurkenov, and civil servants on the forthcoming New Year and presented them with church awards. In recognition of their labors in the development of state–church relations, the strengthening of traditional spiritual, moral, and cultural values in society, as well as their assistance in organizing the visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the following were awarded high honors of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan:

• Deputy Akims of the city E. B. Bayken and N. Zh. Nurkenov, Akim of the “Almaty” District R. S. Taukelov, and Head of the Department of Internal Policy of the city of Astana N. I. Almukhanov – the Order “Enbek Üşin” (For Labors);
• Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the capital K. D. Koshkali, Deputy Akim of the “Almaty” District A. T. Yelimsarina, Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Policy of the city of Astana M. Z. Abdrakhman, Chief Specialist of the Public Development Department of the Office of the Akim of the capital Sh. A. Abzhatov, Head of the Department for Work with Religious Associations of the Department for Religious Affairs of the city S. A. Basir, Chief Specialist of the Analysis and Monitoring Department of the Department for Religious Affairs Zh. M. Maulitkanova, videographer-operator of the “Center for the Study of Religions” B. L. Akhmet, and Chief Specialist of the Department for the Organization and Control of Passenger Transportation of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of the city of Astana A. B. Kerimzhan – the Medal “Enbek Üşin” (For Labors).

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the award recipients and wished them strength of soul and body, well-being, and blessed success in their work to strengthen interethnic and interconfessional peace and harmony in the country.

The Head of the Metropolitan District noted that a landmark event of the outgoing year for the Republic of Kazakhstan was the holding in Astana of the Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, with the personal participation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The Metropolitan quoted the words of His Holiness that the Astana forum “once again demonstrated the solidarity of representatives of the leading religious communities of the world and their aspiration to achieve better mutual understanding among peoples.” The archpastor emphasized that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill highly values the attention of President K.-Zh. K. Tokayev to issues of strengthening church–state cooperation and implementing initiatives aimed at developing good-neighborly relations and maintaining interreligious peace, and expresses hope that the constructive interaction of state authorities with the Metropolitan District will continue to contribute to the moral growth of contemporaries and the prosperity of the country.