Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau Meets with the Newly Appointed Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of West Kazakhstan Region

June 5, 2026. Uralsk. A meeting took place at the city akimat building between Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau, ruling hierarch of the Uralsk and Atyrau Diocese, and the newly appointed Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the West Kazakhstan Region, Aslan Nurlanovich Tapishev.

Also participating in the meeting were: Dean of the Uralsk District, Rector of the Church of the Transfiguration, and Secretary of the Uralsk Diocese Archpriest Vladimir Garasim, and Head of the Diocese’s Information Department Hegumen Dorofey (Dilmanaev).

His Grace congratulated the department head on his appointment to this responsible position and wished him blessed success in his labors for the good of society.

During the discussion, the parties addressed a wide range of issues concerning the current religious situation in the region and the prospects for cooperation between the Uralsk Diocese and state authorities. The archpastor particularly noted the significant contribution of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan to maintaining interreligious harmony, as well as its good and respectful relations with representatives of other traditional religions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Bishop Vianor and A.N. Tapishev exchanged wishes for good health and success in their labors, after which the hierarch presented the department head with a commemorative gift — a copy of the Holy Gospel in the Kazakh language.