Conversation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.S. Ashimbaev

On September 16, 2025, the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Republic of Kazakhstan began.

At the international airport of Astana, His Holiness held a conversation with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Sagatkhanuly Ashimbaev.

“Your Holiness! Welcome to Astana! We are very glad and grateful that you accepted our invitation and came to Kazakhstan,” said M.S. Ashimbaev, greeting the Patriarch. “We are delighted to meet you, and we believe your program here is very full and very interesting. On our part, we will do everything necessary to ensure that your stay here is meaningful and fruitful. I would like to note that the Orthodox faithful of Kazakhstan are also very happy to look forward to meeting you.”

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed the directions of work of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which opens on September 17 in Astana.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed gratitude to the leadership of Kazakhstan for the initiative of holding this representative interreligious forum.

“It is important that during our sessions topics will be discussed relating to the spiritual life of a person and to the problems of the civilizational development of modern society. I think these are the most essential themes today,” noted the Patriarch. “For if a person preserves the spiritual dimension, then he preserves the ability to distinguish good from evil. In Christian theology, there is the concept of the Second Coming of Christ, which is preceded by a certain civilizational catastrophe. And the cause of this catastrophe, according to Holy Scripture, is the triumph of evil over good. For when evil becomes global, when it gains a power many times greater than the combined power of good, human civilization ceases to be viable. Therefore, the theological and philosophical view of these problems, along with their political analysis, is extremely important. And I am grateful that this very theme will be at the center of the discussions in the coming days.”

“I would like to say that I always come to your wonderful country with special feelings,” added His Holiness. “It is a great joy to witness the remarkable development of Kazakhstan in recent years. This, of course, is the merit of your outstanding leader, of the team governing the country, and of your hardworking people. I very much hope that my visit will give a positive impulse to the further development of our relations and will help in addressing the issues that stand on the agenda of the forthcoming session.”

The Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasized that Islam and Orthodoxy are the foundation of the spiritual life of Kazakh society. “This is directly stated in our laws, and therefore our President pays great attention to supporting Orthodoxy and supporting the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan. Throughout the country, Orthodox parishes and dioceses are actively functioning. We will continue to do everything necessary so that the Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan have every opportunity to meet their spiritual needs,” said M.S. Ashimbaev. “I would also like to highlight the work of the Metropolitan District under the leadership of Metropolitan Alexander. A very great work is being carried out.”

“In addition, Your Holiness, I would like to note the enormous contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church to strengthening the friendly, strategic, allied, and brotherly relations between Kazakhstan and Russia. In this regard, your role is enormous, and in general the contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church is very significant, while Russia is our ally and our main partner,” the Speaker of the Senate of Kazakhstan stated.

Present at the meeting were: Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan; A.N. Borodavkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Office for the Affairs of Dioceses in the Near Abroad; Bishop Alexy of Ramensk, personal secretary to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; and V.R. Legoyda, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media.

Also present were: A.G. Balaeva, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan; D.A. Abaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation; Zh.M. Kassymbek, Mayor of Astana; Zh.K. Asanov, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; A.I. Lukin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security; and M.A. Spotkay, Head of the Senate Office.

On September 17, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will speak at the opening ceremony of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’