On May 19, 2024, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan at the end of the Divine Liturgy on the square in front of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Myra in Almaty, an exhibition of photographs dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana Diocese was opened.
The exhibition was organized by the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and the parish of St. Nicholas Cathedral (curators — clerks — kulators &mdash).
The exhibition is organized by the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and the parish of St. Nicholas Cathedral (curators — clergyman of St. Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Igor Svetlichny and vice-rector for educational work of Alma-Ata Seminary John Livinsky).
The head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District took part in the opening of the exhibition. The presentation was attended by Metropolitan Sergius of Barnaul and Altai, Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko), Archbishop Sevastian of Karaganda and Shakhty, Archbishop Amfilohiy of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk, Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola, Archbishop Serapion of Petropavlovsk and Bulayevsk, Archbishop Amfilohiy of Petropavlovsk and Bulayevsk Vladimir, Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk and Romanovo-Borisoglebsk, the Administrator of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Bishop Roman of Rubtsovsky and Aleisky, Bishop Leontiy of Syzran and Shigon, Bishop Ignatiy of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Bishop Khrisanf of Chimkent and Turkestan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Bishop Vianor of Urals and Atyrau, Archpriest Valery Zakharov, dean of the churches of Alma-Ata and rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Artemisy Artemisyev of the Alekseevsky Stavropegial Nunnery in Moscow. Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov of Moscow, abbess of the Alexeevsky Monastery, head of the Legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Higumen Xenia (Chernega), abbess of the Cruciform Exaltation of the Holy Cross Jerusalem Stavropegial Nunnery Cruciform Exaltation of the Holy Cross Jerusalem Stavropegial Nunnery Higomeness Catherine (Chaynikova) and other participants of the service held on the cathedral square.
Metropolitan Alexander addressed the audience with a word of greeting.
Metropolitan Alexander addressed the audience with a word of greeting.
«We open the exhibition devoted to the history and modern life of Astana and Alma-Ata diocese. Here in several stands a cross-section of church life in Astana and the Southern Capital for a quarter-century period is presented. Our ministry is diverse — it is priestly action at the throne of God, evangelical preaching, glorifying the Creator in clergy hymns, church building, catechetical and educational activities, charity and youth work. All of us — both clergy and laity — are called by the Savior to the work of preaching the faith, especially now, when so many people urgently need to find the true path of spiritual life. Each one of us, by the very name of Christian we bear, is obliged to carry the Gospel message to people, affirming by good word and deed the all-conquering power of Christ's truth and righteousness.
The Orthodox faith lives in the hearts of many Kazakhstanis, and a large number of people have a genuine interest in faith in God, in church life. This is evidenced by — huge queues to the shrines, churches crowded at Christmas and Easter. We have the greatest spiritual treasures, and we need to learn to share them, we need to try to bring the beauty and greatness of Orthodoxy to seeking souls.
The ambassadors of Prince Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles, having been once to an Orthodox divine service and having communicated with the clergy of Tsargrad, exclaimed: "A man cannot, having once tasted the sweet, return to the bitter!" So we, too, in our parish and monastic communities, in our families, should strive to show all the best aspects of our faith — the apostolic, holy-theological faith, witnessed by the blood of martyrs; to show our neighbors and neighbors the spiritual fruit, which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, mercy, faith, gentleness, self-control…" (Gal. 5:22)»,— said, in particular, the bishop.
After the welcoming speech of the head of the Metropolitan District, Priest John Livinsky told the audience about the concept of the exhibition and gave a tour.
Photographs and banners presented at the exposition tell about the history and modern life of the Astana Diocese. The stands are decorated with images of the most famous churches, spiritual, cultural and administrative centers of the District, named in honor of the Equal Apostles Cyril and Methodius and Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), as well as significant diocesan shrines. The photos tell about the ministry of the archpastors who ruled the diocese — Archbishop Alexis (now — Metropolitan of Tula and Efremov) and Metropolitan Methodius (now — Metropolitan of Perm and Kungur).
Metropolitan Methodius (now — Metropolitan of Perm and Kungur).
The exhibition will run until May 26.
Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan/Patriarchy.ru
