Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Kazakhstan and Central Asia Awarded the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan’s Order “Beibіtshіlіk pen Kelіsіm” (Peace and Harmony)

October 4, 2024. Almaty. In the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a meeting took place between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and Bishop José Luis Mumbiela Sierra, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of the Most Holy Trinity in the Southern Capital and Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The following were present at the meeting: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; acting Rector of Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolis Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov; Head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the administrative secretariat of the Metropolitan’s Office Priest Georgy Sidorov; and Head of the Metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin.

Metropolitan Alexander awarded Bishop José Luis with the order “Beibіtshіlіk pen Kelіsіm” (Peace and Harmony). The Catholic hierarch was honored with this special church recognition for his significant contribution to fostering interfaith peace and interethnic harmony in Kazakhstan.

The archpastor shared with his guest about the life of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, which in 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty Diocese, and spoke about the activities of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, as well as the implementation of various educational and social projects.

Metropolitan Alexander highlighted the large number of pilgrims who had come to the Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraфimovsky Convent to venerate the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, which are visiting the Metropolis of Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The metropolitan shared with the Catholic bishop his impressions of the recent meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Archbishop George Panamthundil, which took place in Astana on September 29.

Bishop José Luis informed Metropolitan Alexander about the life of the Catholic community in Almaty.

One of the significant topics of the meeting was the discussion of hosting an exhibition in Kazakhstan dedicated to the world-renowned Christian relic, the Shroud of Turin.

During the meeting, a broad range of issues related to the role of traditional religions in Kazakhstani society was discussed.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the parties exchanged good wishes. Metropolitan Alexander presented his guest with his scholarly work, the book “History of Christianity in Central Asia,” and the 2025 calendar of the Kazakhstan Metropolis. Bishop José Luis gave the metropolitan a catechism published for the Catholic community in the country.