His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Consecrated the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Astana

On September 18, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ performed the rite of the Lesser Consecration of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana.

The church is part of the spiritual, cultural, and educational center of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, dedicated to All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan, which is currently under construction in the capital.

At the entrance to the church, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was greeted by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan; First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan R.V. Sklyar; Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.G. Balaeva; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.N. Borodavkin; Archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Deanery; and Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District.

Praying at the Patriarchal service were: Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Office for Dioceses in the Near Abroad; Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk; Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Archbishop Varsonofy of Kokshetau and Akmola; Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Khrisanf of Chimkent and Turkestan; Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; and Bishop Alexy of Ramensk, Personal Secretary to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

Also praying in the church were: Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Almaty Deanery; Archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Deanery; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Church of the Joy of All Who Sorrow in Astana; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Head of the Information Department of the Metropolitan District; Igumen Agafangel (Gagua), Vice-Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Sacristan of the Assumption Cathedral in Astana; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; clergy of the Astana Deanery and of Moscow.

Among those present in the newly consecrated church were also: First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan R.V. Sklyar; Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.G. Balaeva; Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.I. Lukin; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.N. Borodavkin; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.I. Bogdanov; V.R. Legoyda, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media; N.I. Derzhavin, Deputy Head of the Patriarchal Press Service; O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, member of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ on the Development of Russian Church Singing, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation; V.A. Levin, Acting General Director of the Church Art and Production Enterprise “Sofrino”; A.S. Lavrentiev, benefactor of the newly built St. Sergius Church and Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Allur Group” JSC; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Public Foundation “Eleos-Meirim”; and D.I. Gorbashov, General Director of “Premier Group” LLP.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of the Assumption Cathedral in Astana under the direction of O. Varentsova.

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan addressed the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with words of greeting and gratitude for his visit to the under-construction spiritual and educational center of the Metropolitan District in honor of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan, and for the consecration of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Metropolitan Alexander presented His Holiness with an icon of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan containing relics of their holy remains.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill then addressed the participants of the service with a Primatial message:

“Your Eminence, dear Metropolitan! Dear hierarchs, fathers, brothers and sisters!

I greet you all warmly and sincerely rejoice in the event of which we have become participants. A church of God has been consecrated, and there is confidence that other important buildings to be erected here will also serve the spiritual good of the people. For in the temple of God, a person receives grace – that is, the touch of God’s own power – and also help in performing good deeds.

There were times when it was impossible to build churches, and here in the land of Kazakhstan it is well known that those who built churches often arrived not of their own will, for all religious life was being suppressed. But those difficult years have passed into oblivion. What has remained? The spiritual feat has remained – the podvig of those who labored, including on this land, including those who were brought here against their will. For a podvig is a very special part of human life, without which the personality of a person cannot be truly fulfilled. Why? Because in the word podvig (spiritual feat) lies the same root as in the word “movement.” A person develops and grows only when he is in motion.

But in what direction should one move? I have spoken of this many times before, and I repeat it again here. This movement must have a definite vector. First, forward – for forward movement means the development of all aspects of human life. But if it is only forward, then many in history moved forward, building strong economies, strengthening armies, becoming powerful – but this did not bring joy to people. Therefore, for development to be not only materially useful but also truly salvific, the vector of growth must point both forward and upward. Awareness of the tasks before a person, defined precisely by this vector, constitutes the true meaning of human life.

And so that people do not forget this true meaning and these true tasks, we build churches. For entering the temple, a person departs from the vanity of the world, gains the opportunity to focus on the most important – the meaning of life – to set the right goals, to strengthen himself through prayer before God, to pray for loved ones so that the grace of God may also touch them and give them strength. The temple is both a spiritual hospital and a place of concentration. A place where one truly receives the spiritual strength necessary to pass life’s path worthily.

I would once again like to warmly thank all those who contributed their means, who built this wonderful small but very beautiful and cozy church, and those who already fill and will continue to fill its walls. I thank you, Your Eminence, for your initiative and assistance in this construction. May the Lord strengthen your forces in bearing the very responsible church obedience entrusted to you on this blessed land, sanctified by the blood of martyrs.”

As a gift to the newly consecrated church, His Holiness presented an icon depicting the Holy Trinity, painted after the model of the “Trinity” by St. Andrei Rublev.

By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in recognition of his assistance to the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, A.S. Lavrentiev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Allur Group” JSC, was awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Second Class.

All participants of the service were given small icons of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan with the Patriarchal blessing.

At the conclusion, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill examined a banner depicting the church complex under construction, with explanations provided by Archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Deanery.