A collection of poems by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen has been published

July 25, 2024. A collection of poems by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, has been published by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House.

The following took part in the preparation of the book: Editor-in-Chief of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House, Bishop Nikolay of Balashikha and Orekhovo-Zuyevo; Literary Editor – S. Arutyunov; Editors – I. Cherkesova; Proofreader – M. Prosvetova; Layout – D. Ostaniy, M. Alimpiev.

In his poems, Bishop Gennady continues the traditions of Russian classics. The presented collection is the author’s second poetry book. The book includes poems from various stages of his work.
“A bishop is a poet! Such a combination is still unusual and unfamiliar to us. "But in fact it is very organic and natural: the prerequisites for it arose already during the period of the birth of new Russian literature, in its Pushkin era... The verses of the bishop are a kind of poetic sermon. These are the words of a pastor, a church hierarch, calling to remember the responsibility for one's actions before God, patiently and wisely instructing (often by his own example!) both the layman and the priest," says the review by Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Yu. V. Lebedev and Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor L. N. Smirnov. Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen (in the world - Mikhail Borisovich Gogolev), was born on March 10, 1967 in Leningrad into a family of employees. In 1974-1984 he studied at Secondary School No. 139 of the Kalininsky District of the city of Leningrad with in-depth study of mathematics. In 1984-1986 studied at the Moscow Institute of Cryptography, Communications and Informatics. From March to December 1986, he served in the Soviet Army in the Leningrad and Vologda regions.

From December 1986 to July 1987 - psalm reader of the Cosmas and Damian Church in the city of Kirsanov, Tambov diocese. In 1987, he entered the theological seminary of the city on the Neva, which he graduated in 1990 with first class honors. In 1988-1990, he served as a psalm reader of the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Sablino, Tosnensky District, Leningrad Region. In 1990-1994, he studied at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.

On September 21, 1990, he was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan John (Snychev) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga. On November 18 of the same year, Archbishop Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (now His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus') ordained him as a priest. In 1990-1992 he was a priest of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and in 1992-1994 he was a priest of the St. Michael's Cathedral in Lomonosov, Leningrad Region. After graduating from the Theological Academy, he accepted the invitation of Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich (now Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan) to participate in the revival of theological education in the Kostroma Diocese, where he was accepted into the clergy in September 1994. On January 1, 1995, Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich tonsured him into monasticism with the name Gennady in honor of St. Gennady of Kostroma. In 1995-1996 - Rector of the Kostroma Theological School. From 1995 to 2010 - Rector of the St. Alexis Church in Kostroma, Chairman of the Commission for the Canonization of Saints of the Kostroma Diocese. In 1996, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen.

In 1995, at the XV General Assembly of the World Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth "SYNDESMOS", he was elected to the Executive Committee as a representative of the Eastern European region. Since 1996, he has taken part in various projects in the field of Orthodox youth ministry, carried out within the framework of the All-Church Orthodox Youth Movement, later - the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs.
In 1996-2010 - Rector of the revived Kostroma Theological Seminary. He taught the history of the Russian Church, general church history, and pastoral theology at the theological school. On September 1, 1998, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 2000, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs.

Since April 2010 - cleric of the Astana diocese, rector of the Ascension Cathedral in Alma-Ata.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 31, 2010, he was elected Bishop of Kaskelen, vicar of the Astana diocese. On October 10, 2010, during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Moscow Region, he was consecrated Bishop of Kaskelen, vicar of the Astana diocese. The episcopal consecration was performed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' with a host of archpastors.

Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen has been the first assistant of Metropolitan Alexander in church affairs for twenty years. Currently, he carries out the obediences of: manager of the affairs of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and chairman of the theological commission of the Metropolitan District.

The Bishop represents the Orthodox Church at various major state and public forums, conferences and round tables, chairs meetings of the "Interdepartmental Council of Religious Scholars of Kazakhstan", coordinates the implementation of all-Kazakhstan Orthodox youth projects. Since October 2013, the well-known republican television channel "Eurasia 1" has been broadcasting the "Sunday Conversations" program on Sunday mornings. In an accessible and interesting form, Bishop Gennady tells viewers about Orthodox theology, various aspects of spiritual life, outstanding figures of Orthodoxy and church history. The "Sunday Conversations" series is very popular; hundreds of thousands of Kazakhstanis have already watched it.

The works of Bishop Gennady were highly praised by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev, awarding him the Order of Kurmet, as stated in the Decree of the head of state: "For significant contribution to the cultural development of Kazakhstan, strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples, active social work."

On November 17, 2014, Russian President V.V. Putin signed a decree awarding Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen with a state award - the Pushkin Medal. This award is given to Russian citizens and foreigners for their services in the field of culture and art, education, humanities and literature, for their great contribution to the study and preservation of cultural heritage, the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of the cultures of nations and peoples, for the creation of highly artistic images.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 5, 2015, Bishop Gennady was appointed co-chairman of the Bilateral Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church.

He is a member of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church.