October 2, 2026. Kostanay. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan met with Kumar Irgibayevich Aksakalov, Akim of the Kostanay Region, at the regional administration building.
Representing the Orthodox Church at the meeting were Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Protopresbyters Evangelos Koutras and Thomas Kostamonitis, clergy of the Metropolis of Corfu of the Church of Greece; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; and I. Yatsenko, assistant to the Metropolitan.
Representing the regional authorities were B.Kh. Narymbetov, Deputy Akim of the Kostanay Region, and B.S. Bukeyev, Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the Kostanay Regional Akimat.
The Akim warmly welcomed the Head of the Metropolitan District and those present, congratulating them on the arrival in Kostanay of the great shrine – the relics of St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous.
Kumar Aksakalov briefed Metropolitan Alexander and those gathered on life in the region and outlined plans for developing its infrastructure. He paid particular attention to the results of the harvest campaign and the beginning of the heating season in the cities and communities of the Kostanay Region.
Metropolitan Alexander told the Akim about the ongoing restoration of the historic diocesan shrine – the Monastery of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the village of Oktyabrskoye; the consecration of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Vladimirovka; and the laying of the foundation stone for a church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Multiplier of Wheat” in Kostanay’s Northwestern District.
The Head of the Metropolitan District expressed particular gratitude to Kumar Irgibayevich for granting permission to build the new church dedicated to the icon of the Queen of Heaven traditionally venerated by farmers.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan also told the Akim that during his archpastoral visit, together with representatives of the Greek delegation, he had visited the Church of the Archangel Michael in Kostanay and the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the district center of Tobyl. The latter houses the diocesan museum, whose collections include the exhibition “Those Who Suffered for Christ,” devoted to people who endured exile, deprivation and martyrdom for their faith in God, as well as to churches destroyed during the years of persecution against the Church.
The clergy of the Metropolis of Corfu told the Akim about the life of Orthodox Christians on the island of Corfu and about previous visits of St. Spyridon’s relics to Russia and other countries. They also shared their positive impressions of Astana, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Karaganda, Uralsk and Petropavlovsk and of their acquaintance with these major cities of Kazakhstan.
The Greek clergy spoke in particular of the strength of faith they had witnessed among Orthodox Christians in Kazakhstan, who welcomed the incorrupt dexter of the Wonderworker of Trimythous with great spiritual enthusiasm despite bad weather and late hours, often waiting for several hours to venerate the relic. They also noted the beauty of Kazakhstan’s churches and the large number of faithful, including many young people.
Metropolitan Alexander briefed Kumar Aksakalov on the pilgrimage of the holy relics through the Kazakhstani cities of Karaganda, Uralsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Astana and Petropavlovsk and provided statistics on the number of pilgrims.
The participants discussed several current issues concerning the life of the Kostanay Diocese and cooperation between the regional and diocesan authorities. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of continued dialogue between the regional administration and the Kostanay Diocese in promoting the spiritual well-being of society and preserving traditional moral values and the people’s historical memory.
The meeting concluded in a friendly atmosphere with an exchange of commemorative gifts and good wishes.
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