Representatives of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District took part in the Republican Forum: “Spiritual Concord – the Foundation of Unity and Peace in Kazakhstan”

October 21, 2025 – Almaty. In honor of the Day of Spiritual Concord, the city Department for Religious Affairs organized a Republican Forum on the topic: “Spiritual Concord – the Foundation of Unity and Peace in Kazakhstan.”

The forum’s goal was to discuss the outcomes of the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to strengthen interfaith dialogue, to develop a culture of spiritual harmony, and to promote the values of unity, peace, and mutual understanding in society. The forum also aimed to facilitate the exchange of experience between regions and the study of leading global practices.

The forum was hosted by one of the country’s leading universities, Caspian University.

The event brought together representatives of religious associations, officials of the Republican Committee for Religious Affairs, deputies of the Maslikhat, members of the Public Council of Almaty, heads of departments for religious affairs of the regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, leading Kazakhstani experts, researchers from scientific institutions and universities, as well as representatives of NGOs and the media.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the forum was attended by Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, lecturer at the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, and keyholder of the Ascension Cathedral; the rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District; as well as seminary faculty and students.

Speakers at the plenary session included A. B. Kaldybekov, Deputy Akim of Almaty; Zh. B. Asanova, Senator of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; A. K. Seyfullin, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Professor Dr. Ahmed Hussein Muhammad Ibrahim, Rector of the Egyptian University of Islamic Culture “Nur-Mubarak”; N. B. Asanov, religious scholar, theologian, and Chief Imam of the “Yryskeldi Qazhy” mosque; Santiago de Lasala Porta, Professor at the University of Navarra (Spain); S. A. Kalymzhanovich, Director of the Center for Islamic and Kazakh Law at Maqsut Narikbayev University; and Y. G. Berikbayev, Head of the Strategic Analysis Department at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The plenary session was moderated by N. M. Kikimov, Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the city of Almaty.

Archpriest Alexander Suvorov delivered a presentation at the panel session titled “Ethics and Spiritual Guidelines in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”

At the session “Youth and Spiritual Values: A Dialogue Between Generations,” a presentation was given by Archpriest Yevgeny Ivanov.

The sessions concluded with a discussion of the proposed topics and an exchange of views.

After the scientific and practical part of the forum, a concert dedicated to the Day of Spiritual Concord was held.