Prominent Jurist and Public Figure Professor I.V. Ponkin Awarded the High Patriarchal Distinction – the Order of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky

May 27, 2026. Moscow. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, presented the Order of the Holy Right-Believing Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, Third Class, to the distinguished Russian jurist, legal scholar, and public figure Igor Vladislavovich Ponkin.

I.V. Ponkin is Doctor of Juridical Sciences, Professor, member of the Public Council under the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region, member of the Expert Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, member of the Expert Council for State Religious Studies Examination under the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for Moscow, and member of the Expert Council on Theology of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

By decree of His Holiness, Igor Vladislavovich was awarded the high ecclesiastical distinction in recognition of his exceptional service in preserving traditional spiritual and moral values in society.

Presenting the award, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan remarked in particular:

“For many years, You have labored in the legal sphere, offering an example of the highest professionalism and of zealous and selfless service to the Fatherland. You have devoted Your life to a noble ministry – defending truth, protecting innocent people, and combating extremism and radicalism. As a sincerely believing person, in Your diverse activities You unfailingly follow the Gospel word and are guided by the exhortation of the Apostle Paul: ‘Overcome evil with good’ (Rom. 12:21).

“A significant part of Your many years of work has been dedicated to defending the lawful interests of the Russian Orthodox Church. You took active and committed part in returning numerous churches to the Orthodox people, restoring desecrated holy places, combating blasphemous attacks against hierarchs and clergy, and integrating theological scholarship into the national system of education.”

During the conversation that followed, Metropolitan Alexander informed his interlocutor about the life of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, placing particular emphasis on culturally significant events – the International Festival of Orthodox Choral Music Paschal Hymn held in Alma-Ata and the opening of a house-museum dedicated to the confessor of faith and piety, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan.

The hierarch noted that the strengthening of interaction and cooperation between church institutions, governmental structures, traditional confessions, public organizations, and diplomatic missions for the preservation of enduring spiritual and moral values, and for the promotion of interreligious peace and interethnic concord, has remained and continues to remain among the highest priorities of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.

Metropolitan Alexander emphasized the consolidating role of the President of the Republic, K.-J.K. Tokayev, in the development of state-confessional and interreligious dialogue in Kazakhstan, noting his considerable attention to the spiritual and moral condition of society, especially of the younger generation.

Igor Vladislavovich shared with the hierarch information concerning his activities – expert and analytical work and the publication of new conceptual articles, in particular the release of the detailed theoretical study Functional Profiles of Practitioner-Analysts and the Standardization of Analytical Work.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which took place in a warm atmosphere, Metropolitan Alexander and Professor I.V. Ponkin exchanged wishes for health and success in their labors.