On November 30, 2022, in Almaty, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, a presentation of the translation of books of the Holy Scriptures into Kazakh and the professional publication of these translated texts took place at the Rixos Almaty conference hall.

The initiative to translate the books of the Bible into Kazakh under the auspices of the Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan was spearheaded by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The Apostol Public Foundation, led by President G.G. Sosnovsky, brought the project to life. For over a year, members of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District, the Apostol Foundation, translator of the Astana Diocese, ethnic Kazakh Priest Yelisey Kukeyev, and leading specialists from the well-known Kazakh translation agency Helvetia worked on this translation and publication.

The first books presented to the Kazakhstani public were the Gospel of Matthew, the Psalter, and the Proverbs of Solomon. Metropolitan Alexander opened the presentation with his speech: “Our country is a secular state, but traditional religions, primarily Hanafi Islam and Christianity, hold a special place in Kazakhstani society; they are not only a significant factor in fostering interethnic harmony and social stability, but they also serve as a source of preserving and strengthening historical memory, national culture, morality, and enduring moral ideals. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has noted: ‘Religions have always fulfilled a fundamental educational role. The Quran, the Bible, the Torah, and other sacred texts are imbued with ideas of humanism, compassion, and mercy. They reject aggression, abhor radicalism, condemn violence, and preach tolerance and moderation.’ This year, marked by the historic date of the 150th anniversary of the Turkestan Diocese, the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan initiated an extensive project to translate the Old and New Testaments into modern Kazakh. Today, we present the first results of this significant work by secular and ecclesiastical specialists, which has been ongoing for several months. The Gospel of Matthew, the Proverbs of Solomon, and the Psalter—some of the most well-known and widely read books of the Bible—have been translated into Kazakh. A religious expert review was conducted, and these books are recommended for distribution and use throughout our country,” said the Head of the Metropolitan District.

“It is impossible to produce a high-quality translation without relying on the culture of the people, their traditional values, and their perspectives on God, the world, and humanity. Kazakh, one of the richest and most expressive languages in the world, is a precious part of the ancient and multifaceted culture of the Kazakh people. The new translation of sacred texts was carried out by both ecclesiastical and secular Kazakh culture and language bearers, following contemporary linguistic norms and standards. The specialists used the full spectrum of linguistic resources to convey the beauty, diversity, spirit, meaning, and style of the biblical texts,” emphasized the archpastor in his speech.

“The publication of the Bible in Kazakh has invaluable educational, historical, and cultural significance. This translation allows a vast number of people to become familiar with one of humanity’s greatest literary monuments in their native language—a foundation of much of world culture. The Kazakh Bible translation is a strong incentive for study and comprehension and, without a doubt, a substantial contribution to the spiritual and intellectual development of Kazakhstan, our shared home,” concluded the metropolitan.

A statement from the Minister of Culture of Kazakhstan, D.A. Abaev, noted: “This historic event—the presentation of the books The Gospel of Matthew, The Psalter, and The Proverbs of Solomon—holds special significance for Orthodox believers in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The high quality of the translation distinguishes it from previous versions. I believe that these newly published books will be valued not only by Orthodox believers but also by specialists and experts in religious studies, as well as by those who study the Holy Scriptures. I also view this project as a contribution to further strengthening unity and interfaith harmony within Kazakhstani society.”

The work on translating the Bible into Kazakh is ongoing. The first books of the Holy Scriptures presented to the Kazakhstani public were the Gospel of Matthew, the Psalter, and the Proverbs of Solomon. In 2023, the New Testament and a prayer book in Kazakh were published. The new translation of the sacred texts was executed by both ecclesiastical and secular experts in Kazakh culture and language, following current linguistic standards. The translated texts underwent theological review, which recommended these publications for distribution in Kazakhstan.

The publication of the Bible in Kazakh has invaluable cognitive, historical, and cultural significance, offering a broad audience access to one of humanity’s greatest literary achievements in their native language, which forms a substantial part of world culture. The Kazakh Bible translation is a powerful incentive for its study and understanding, and a substantial contribution to the spiritual and intellectual development of Kazakhstan, our shared home.