On November 22, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Patriarchal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.
Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia met with Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
From the side of the Russian Orthodox Church participated: Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church's Department for Interreligious Relations, Priest Ilia Kashitsyn.
From the side of the Russian Orthodox Church participated: Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church's Department for Interreligious Relations, Priest Ilia Kashitsyn.
From the side of the Republic of Kazakhstan took part: Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Lukin, Secretary of the Committee on Agrarian Affairs, Nature Management and Rural Development of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan O. Bulavkina, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation D.A. Abaev, Head of the Staff of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.A. Spotkai, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.D. Baimukanov, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Protocol of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.J. Almashov, Head of the Press Service of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan D.S. Ramazanov.
After greeting the guests, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted the high level of relations of the Moscow Patriarchate with the leadership of Kazakhstan and the country as a whole, actively developing there. His Holiness also shared good memories of his visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2012. His Holiness also shared good memories of his visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2012.
Noting that it was a great honor for him and his colleagues to meet with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan conveyed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church a cordial greeting from the President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. «He very much appreciates what the Russian Orthodox Church is doing to promote interreligious dialogue, as well as to spread moral values, and asked to convey his sincere words of gratitude for the activities you are carrying out»— M.S. Ashimbayev said; he also emphasized the Church's significant contribution to strengthening harmony and stability in the country.
In turn, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia asked to convey to the Head of the Kazakh state greetings and words of deep respect and gratitude, noting in particular the position of the Orthodox Church in modern Kazakhstan.
Patriarch Kirill asked to convey to the Head of the Kazakh state greetings and words of deep respect and gratitude, noting in particular the position of the Orthodox Church in modern Kazakhstan.
In continuation of the conversation M.S. Ashimbayev stated the important role of Orthodoxy in the life of his country: «This role is outlined in our laws, where it is clearly stated that Islam of the Hanafi maskhab and the Christianity of the Kazakhstani Orthodox Church is the most important religion in Kazakhstan. Orthodoxy is the pillar of spiritual and cultural life of Kazakhstan. And on the part of state institutions, the country's leadership are creating all necessary conditions for the Orthodox citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan to feel comfortable, have all the opportunities to meet their spiritual needs»
He especially mentioned the great contribution of the head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Metropolitan Astana and Kazakhstan Metropolitan.
He especially mentioned the great contribution of the head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander in the development of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, saying that at the moment there are more than 300 Orthodox churches and other religious buildings in the country, 14 new facilities are being built in different regions, including the planned construction of a new Orthodox church in Astana. During the years of Metropolitan Alexander's ministry in Kazakhstan, new dioceses were opened, a theological seminary was established, a large-scale restoration of the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty — a unique object of cultural heritage, dozens of churches were built throughout the country.
The statesman made special mention of the recent bringing of relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow to Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Bringing the relic was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Astana diocese and the the upcoming 15th anniversary of the approval of the canonical status of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. As M.S. Ashimbayev emphasized, this has become a great holiday for the Orthodox residents.
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«From the leadership of the country, from the Parliament and other state institutions, we will continue to do everything necessary for the Orthodox in Kazakhstan to feel comfortable, that all issues were resolved in a timely manner and there were no obstacles to the realization of the spiritual interests of the Orthodox citizens of Kazakhstan» — assured the chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Talking about the great contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church in promoting interreligious dialog, cooperation and interaction at the international level, the head of the Kazakh delegation emphasized: «Although due to the ongoing geopolitical collisions the time is very difficult now, despite all the difficulties and trials the Russian Orthodox Church is doing a lot to promote the culture of mutual understanding, the culture of dialog in the world. And we very much appreciate this activity.
M.S. Ashimbayev also stated that Kazakhstan for its part is actively working in this direction. In particular, since 2003 the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has been convened there every three years, and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has been organized every three years. To date, this forum has become a universally recognized effective platform for dialogue. At the past seven congresses the discussion of very important topics for modern society took place. Thus, the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in 2022 considered such issues as the promotion of moral values in the world, countering radical ideology and others. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church invariably participate in these forums and in the work of the Secretariat of the Congress, and in 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia spoke at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
«We warmly remember your speech at the Congress, where you raised fundamental issues for modern society, — said the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan. — It was twelve years ago, but your theses, ideas that you voiced, are still relevant today, and, perhaps, acquire even greater relevance in the modern world in connection with the trends that we see today.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, the head of the delegation handed over to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia the invitation to take part in the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held on September 17-18, 2025 in Astana, emphasizing that this is the first official invitation to the upcoming forum, signed by the Head of the Kazakh State.
As noted by M.S. Ashimbayev.
According to M.S. Ashimbayev, against the background of painful processes of transformation taking place in the world now, «it is very important that the most influential spiritual authorities of the modern world came together and addressed to humanity with a joint call for harmony, to the spread of moral values, raised many issues and showed the way how we all need to develop in the coming period »
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The theme of the upcoming forum is designated as «Dialogue of religions: synergy for the sake of the future», said the chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the end of the meeting the parties exchanged memorable gifts.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
