A Meeting Took Place Between the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the Akim of Kostanay Region, K.I. Aksakalov

October 14, 2024. Kostanay. A meeting was held at the regional akimat between the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, and the Akim of Kostanay Region, Kumar Irgibayevich Aksakalov.

The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese, Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha); and on behalf of the secular authorities – Deputy Akim of Kostanay Region, R.Z. Mukhametkaliev, and Head of the Regional Department for Religious Affairs, E.B. Kalmakov.

Kumar Irgibayevich warmly welcomed the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, expressing gratitude for the visit and for the attention given to the spiritual life of the region. The regional leader expressed his appreciation to the archpastor for bringing an important Orthodox relic – the reliquary containing a portion of the relics of Blessed Eldress Matrona of Moscow. According to the akim, this event will serve to unite society around traditional spiritual and moral values.

Metropolitan Alexander informed K.I. Aksakalov about the life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, emphasizing that the pilgrimage of the relics of Blessed Matrona to Kostanay is an important part of the celebrations in the dioceses of the Metropolis marking the significant date – the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty Dioceses.

The Metropolitan also informed the regional leader about the revival of a historical holy site in the diocese – the monastery dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the village of Oktyabrskoye, Kostanay Region, and the elevation of the monastery’s abbess, Nun Nika (Otroshchenko), to the dignity of hegumeness.

The Akim of the region briefed the metropolitan on the socio-economic situation in the region, the development of the agro-industrial complex, and the implementation of various cultural and charitable projects.

One of the topics of discussion was the outcome of the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The participants gave a high positive assessment of the words of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelovich Tokayev, who noted that the implementation of this project “will ensure sustainable progress for our country for decades to come, strengthen our energy sovereignty, give a powerful boost to the development of various sectors of the economy, science, and education, and will contribute to the formation of a broad class of engineers and specialists of various profiles.”

During the conversation, it was emphasized that in Kazakhstan, despite contemporary challenges, the fundamental principles of harmonious interethnic relations are preserved thanks to the policies of the head of state – the right to develop culture, to preserve native languages, traditions, and customs of all ethnic groups living as one big family. In the context of discussing state policy in the field of dialogue with representatives of traditional religions, the importance of the peacemaking activities of the two leading confessions of the country – the Hanafi School of Islam and Orthodox Christianity – was highlighted.

The parties discussed matters of cooperation between secular authorities in the region and the Kostanay Diocese of the Metropolis. The Akim emphasized that the city and regional leadership would support the diocese’s initiatives aimed at strengthening traditional moral values and preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the people.

During the meeting, there was an exchange of opinions on a wide range of topics of mutual interest.

The hierarch and the regional leader considered the request of the faithful for the construction of a church in the regional center of Kazakhstan’s breadbasket dedicated to the image of the Queen of Heaven, “The Supplier of Bread,” which is especially revered by farmers.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, Metropolitan Alexander and Kumar Irgibayevich exchanged well-wishes.