Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Metropolitan Alexander Visit the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District’s Spiritual, Cultural, and Educational Center under Construction

July 29, 2026 – Astana. As part of his working visit to the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Nikolayevich Chernyshenko, at the invitation of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, visited the spiritual, cultural, and educational center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan currently under construction, together with the Church of All the Saints Who Have Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister presented the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District with the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland,” Second Class.

Together with Metropolitan Alexander, Dmitry Chernyshenko inspected the progress of construction of the new ecclesiastical complex, which includes the Church of All the Saints Who Have Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan and the spiritual, cultural, and educational center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. The details of the project were presented by Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District. Following the site visit, a working meeting was held to discuss the next stages of the construction of the architectural complex.

At St. Sergius Church, located within the developing spiritual and cultural center, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated a moleben for the successful holding of the International Multisport Tournament “Games of the Future – 2026.”

As a blessing for his labors, the hierarch presented the Deputy Prime Minister with an icon of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan.

A.N. Borodavkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented the church with a Gospel Book for the Holy Table on behalf of the Russian Embassy.

The project to establish the spiritual, cultural, and educational center, which received the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, has been supported by Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, and Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The completed complex is expected to include the Church of All the Saints Who Have Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan; a spiritual, cultural, and educational center with classrooms, an assembly hall, a lecture hall, a library, and a cinema; as well as a research and museum complex dedicated to ecclesiastical art and the history of Orthodoxy in Central Asia. The center will also house an icon-painting workshop and school, together with creative programs for young people. Construction of the principal buildings is already well underway, while all work on St. Sergius Church has been completed. The project is being financed through donations from benefactors, including both Russian and Kazakhstani businesses.

As part of the continuing visit, Dmitry Chernyshenko, accompanied by Metropolitan Alexander, also visited the Central Mosque of Astana, one of the largest mosques in the world. The guests were welcomed by Nauryzbay Kazhy Taganuly, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan and Supreme Mufti.

Based on materials from the official portal of the Government of the Russian Federation.