6 November 2025. Almaty.
A meeting of the “Religion” Working Group of the St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum took place in the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan, focusing on the theme of the social ministry of religious communities.
The event brought together representatives of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, the Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Catholic Church in Kazakhstan, the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, as well as public and church social and medical institutions and secular universities.
The meeting was opened by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Kazakhstan, who conveyed the blessing and greeting of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. His Grace spoke about the Church’s social ministry in the Republic of Kazakhstan under the conditions of changing religious legislation. A welcoming address was also delivered by the head of the “Religion” Working Group of the forum, Deputy Chairman of the DECR, Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov).
The session was moderated by V.V. Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media.
Speakers included: M.B. Nelyubova, staff member of the DECR Secretariat for Inter-Christian Relations; Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya, Keykeeper of the Nativity of Christ Church in Almaty; Priest Vyacheslav Inyushkin, Head of the Youth Department of the Kamensk Diocese (Yekaterinburg Metropolis); Archpriest Anatoly Izmerov, Head of the Public Foundation “Kazakhstan Without Drugs”; Archpriest Vyacheslav Pugachev, Chairman of the Commission on Charity and Social Ministry of the Metropolis of Kazakhstan; Fr. Tomas Pyś, Prefect of the Interdiocesan Higher Theological Seminary of the Catholic Church in Kazakhstan; Priest Sergey Golubnichy, Head of the Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry of the Pavlodar Diocese; E.Yu. Karabaeva, representative of the Chimkent Diocese; A.A. Belimova, Senior Sister of the Sisterhood in honor of the Holy Royal Martyrs; A.Yu. Zarov, Director and Chief Physician of the Central Clinical Hospital of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow; Nun Sevastiana (Aldzhanova), Abbess of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy in Moscow; I.V. Shcherbakova, Head of the Charity Programs of the Martha and Mary Convent; Priest Andrey Raspopin, Spiritual Father of the Convent of Mercy in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the village of Tuymbayevo; and G.A. Galkina, Head of the Motherhood and Childhood Protection Department of the Sisterhood of the Holy Royal Martyrs.
Participants exchanged experiences in social ministry between the religious communities of Russia and Kazakhstan, enabling more effective assistance and support to those in need.
The reports addressed methods of social service in the field of palliative care, support for people suffering from addictions, humanitarian aid for families and individuals in difficult life circumstances. Topics included the development of sisterhoods through professional training in patient care conducted by the Moscow St. Alexis Hospital, as well as the charitable activities of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy, sisterhoods of mercy in Kazakhstan, and volunteer initiatives.
Special attention was given to ongoing efforts aimed at preserving traditional spiritual, moral, and family values within society.
The session also included the participation of: DECR Secretary for Far-Abroad Affairs, Archpriest Sergey Zvonarev; Head of the DECR Communication Service, Priest Ilya Kosykh; and Hierodeacon Alexy (Ochkanov), staff member of the DECR Secretariat for Far-Abroad Affairs, among others.
Source: Patriarchia.ru
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