Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Culture and Information Rustam Ali Meets Participants Accompanying the Relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous

September 26, 2026. Astana. Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Rustam Ali visited the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

In the fireplace hall, the Vice Minister, who oversees religious affairs, met with Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and members of the delegation from the Metropolis of Corfu of the Church of Greece accompanying the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous on their pilgrimage through Kazakhstan: Protopresbyters Evangelos Koutras and Thomas Kostamonitis, as well as Pavlos Spyridonis and Spyridon Agathos, assistants to the Metropolitan of Corfu.

The meeting was also attended by Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), dean of the parishes of the capital; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; and V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation.

Also taking part were O.V. Perepechina, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and A.I. Bogdanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus.

The Vice Minister of Culture and Information warmly congratulated Metropolitan Alexander and those present on the arrival in Astana of the wonderworking dexter of St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous. Rustam Ali noted that St. Spyridon is well known and loved in Kazakhstan not only by Orthodox Christians but also by members of other traditional faiths.

The participants agreed that events such as the bringing of renowned sacred relics to Kazakhstan encourage people to reflect on enduring spiritual and moral values and testify to the special atmosphere of interethnic peace and interreligious harmony that is a distinctive feature of the country.

Metropolitan Alexander informed the Vice Minister that the relics of St. Spyridon, which arrived in Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and with the kind consent of Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, had already visited three major cities before arriving in Astana – Karaganda, Uralsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The Metropolitan noted that more than 41,000 people had venerated the relics over the course of five days.

Protopresbyter Evangelos Koutras, custodian of the saint’s holy dexter, told Rustam Ali about the history of the relics of the great wonderworker, which have remained incorrupt for almost 1,700 years. Father Evangelos noted that the saint’s incorrupt dexter, now being brought to Kazakhstan, has on numerous occasions in recent decades left its permanent home on the Greek island of Corfu so that the faithful in other countries could venerate it.

The relic has visited the United States, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Belarus and Georgia. According to Father Evangelos, the sole purpose of these pilgrimages is to give Orthodox Christians throughout the world who are unable to travel to Corfu an opportunity to receive the saint’s blessing, strengthen their faith and find spiritual consolation and support.

During the meeting, the Vice Minister noted that the Ministry of Culture and Information seeks to build partnerships with the country’s religious communities, including the Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Alexander asked Rustam Ali to convey his greetings and best wishes to the newly appointed Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, A.O. Kyrykbayer.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the hierarchs and the Vice Minister exchanged wishes for good health and success in their work.