Dean of the Capital Church District Takes Part in Festive Events Dedicated to the Great Victory in Astana

May 9, 2025 – Astana. At the initiative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the capital of Kazakhstan, a series of solemn wreath-laying ceremonies took place at the Otan Qorğawşylar (“Defenders of the Fatherland”) monument, the memorial to the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, and the monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War – Ivan Panfilov, Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, Manshuk Mametova, Aliya Moldagulova, and Rakhimzhan Koshkarbayev.

Accompanied by an honor guard company and the Central Military Orchestra of the National Military-Patriotic Center of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, A.N. Borodavkin; First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General S.B. Kamaletdinov; as well as the heads of diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan honored the memory of those who fell during the Great Patriotic War.

With the blessing of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Metropolis was represented at the ceremonial events by Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District.

Taking part in the ceremony were diplomats and staff of the embassies of CIS member states, officers of military attaché offices, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, activists of Russian compatriot organizations, youth and cultural associations, journalists, and numerous residents of the city.

Congratulating all Kazakhstanis on Victory Day and expressing heartfelt gratitude to the veterans, the Ambassador of Russia, A.N. Borodavkin, stated:

“Today, throughout the CIS countries – including Russia and Kazakhstan – Victory Day is being widely and solemnly celebrated, with deep gratitude to our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who defended the freedom and independence of our country and delivered humanity from the inhuman Nazi scourge.

Together with the ambassadors of friendly nations, we laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and the Motherland monument, as well as at the memorial to the 28 Panfilov heroes, who defended Moscow in the autumn of 1941 and did not allow the Nazi invaders to reach the capital.

We are grateful to the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan for organizing this wreath-laying ceremony in such a solemn atmosphere – with the orchestra and the participation of the Ministry’s leadership. Many residents of Astana came here today by the call of their hearts to lay flowers and pay their respects and gratitude to the Red Army soldiers who rose up to defend our Homeland.”

That same day, staff of the Embassy of the Russian Federation, together with representatives of compatriot organizations in Astana, visited veterans of the Great Patriotic War and home front workers, congratulated them on the anniversary of the Victory, and presented them with commemorative gifts.