The Cathedral of the Assumption in Astana Visited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov

On November 7, 2024, in Astana, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, during his working visit to the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visited the main cathedral of the country – the Cathedral of the Assumption and the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints Cyril and Methodius, at the invitation of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

 

Prior to this visit, the head of the Russian foreign ministry was received by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.-Zh.K. Tokayev, and held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, M.A. Nurtleu. The Minister also gave a speech at the Diplomatic Institute of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

The delegation accompanying S.V. Lavrov included the Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova; the Director of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning, Alexey Yuryevich Drobinin; and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alexey Nikolayevich Borodavkin.

 

At the Cathedral of the Assumption, the high-ranking guest was greeted on behalf of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan by Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Capital Parishes.

 

Archimandrite Sergiy warmly welcomed Sergey Viktorovich and conducted a guided tour of the cathedral. He noted that among the distinguished guests who have been introduced to the beauty of the largest church in Central Asia were the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, heads of foreign states, as well as various religious and public leaders.

 

During the visit, the Minister was informed about the history of the cathedral’s construction, which involved the expertise of master craftsmen from Kazakhstan, Russia, and other CIS countries. Sergey Viktorovich honored the cathedral’s revered relics, which include the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, a precise replica of the ancient miracle-working icon in Kostroma, and the Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, symbolizing the heavenly protection of the Sovereign Lady over Kazakhstan. The Minister lit candles before the icons, praying for the well-being of Russia and Kazakhstan and the successful development of relations between the two fraternal countries.

 

After the tour, S.V. Lavrov visited the spiritual and cultural center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, where he met with Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev) in the fireplace hall.

 

During their conversation, the Dean provided an overview of the life of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan, the second-largest traditional religious denomination in the Republic. He also spoke about the events held to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana Diocese in 2024. Archimandrite Sergiy informed the guest that Astana, Almaty, and other cities of the country have been visited by the revered relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He emphasized that in the two major cities of the Republic, more than 100,000 people venerated the relics, and their journey within the Metropolitan District continues, drawing large numbers of faithful pilgrims.

 

A phone conversation also took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, during which the Minister congratulated the Metropolitan on the 25th anniversary of the Astana Diocese’s establishment and the 35th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Sergey Viktorovich acknowledged the significant contribution of the Orthodox Church to strengthening spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian ties between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and expressed gratitude to the Metropolitan for his personal efforts in enhancing Russian-Kazakhstani cooperation. The Minister highlighted the importance of unifying the peacemaking efforts of secular authorities and religious leaders amidst the tense socio-political situation and escalating international conflicts. Metropolitan Alexander and S.V. Lavrov exchanged wishes for health and success in their work.