Meeting of Metropolitan Alexander with the Head of the Association of Russian, Slavic and Cossack Organizations of Kazakhstan S.M. Ponomarev Took Place in Almaty

December 14, 2025. Almaty.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, met with the Head of the Association of Russian, Slavic and Cossack Organizations of Kazakhstan, Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sergey Mikhailovich Ponomarev.

The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Regent of the Choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District, Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Assistant to the Metropolitan P.V. Sokolov.

The hierarch informed Sergey Mikhailovich about the recently concluded Primatial visit to Kazakhstan of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, who visited Astana at the invitation of the Head of State K.-Zh.K. Tokayev from September 16 to 18. The Head of the Metropolitan District shared with his interlocutor his favorable impressions of the meeting between the President of the Republic and His Holiness, during which Patriarch Kirill, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening spiritual ties between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Russia and as a sign of special respect, was awarded the country’s highest state decoration – the Order of “Altyn Qyran” (“Golden Eagle”).

Metropolitan Alexander emphasized that His Holiness highly appreciates the attention of the leadership of Kazakhstan, headed by K.-Zh.K. Tokayev, to the strengthening of church–state cooperation and the implementation of initiatives aimed at developing good-neighborly relations and maintaining interreligious peace.

The interlocutors gave a high assessment of the activities of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which marked the 30th anniversary of its establishment in the outgoing year. By mutual opinion, the organization has achieved significant results in integrating ethnic groups into a single people, embodying the ideas of spiritual unity and interethnic harmony, and fostering and strengthening a sense of patriotism. It was noted that the Assembly, which has no analogues in the world, has become a full-fledged subject of Kazakhstan’s political and public system, a symbol of mutual understanding, respect and friendship among the peoples of the country, and a genuine institution of people’s diplomacy.

A special topic of discussion concerned issues of cooperation between the Association of Russian, Slavic and Cossack Organizations of Kazakhstan and the Metropolitan District in the implementation of joint cultural and educational initiatives and social and charitable projects.

Metropolitan Alexander invited S.M. Ponomarev to visit the Orthodox spiritual, cultural and administrative center named after the Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius at the Assumption Cathedral in Astana, as well as the educational center currently under construction.

As a keepsake of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander presented the Head of the Association of Russian, Slavic and Cossack Organizations of Kazakhstan with his scholarly work – the book History of Christianity in Central Asia – and the Metropolitan District calendar for 2026.

In turn, Sergey Mikhailovich presented the hierarch with an illustrated album titled My Homeland – Kazakhstan.