The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Participates in the First 2025 Session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

March 20, 2025. Moscow. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired the first 2025 session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, held at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery.

Opening the session, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the members of the Holy Synod with brief welcoming remarks, after which the Synod proceeded to consider the items on the agenda.

Participating in the session were the permanent members of the Holy Synod: Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău and All Moldova; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, Head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District; Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolis; Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Nikandr of Vladimir and Suzdal, Chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Also participating as temporary members of the Holy Synod were: Metropolitan Philaret of Novokakhovka and Genichesk; Metropolitan Ferapont of Kostroma and Nerekhta; Archbishop Mark of Vorkuta and Usinsk; Bishop Tarasius of Balashov and Rtishchevo; Bishop Tikhon of Ishim and Aromashevo.

The Holy Synod approved the minutes of the Synod of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 29, 2024, and February 17, 2025.

The members of the Holy Synod also deliberated on the appointment to the vacant see of the Kokshetau Diocese of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and resolved that the Most Reverend Barsanuphius, Archbishop of Novoazovsk and Vicar of the Donetsk Diocese, be appointed Bishop of Kokshetau and Akmola.