A monastic conference was held in Alma-Ata

August 3, 2024. Alma-Ata. An educational conference for monastics of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was held in the throne hall of the spiritual and cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

The topic of the scientific forum: "Replenishment of the brotherhood of the monastery. What does it depend on?"

The conference was headed by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The presidium was attended by: Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Bishop Chrysanthus of Chimkent and Turkestan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Veniamin of Talgar.

The organizing committee for the preparation, holding and moderation of the scientific event was headed by the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan.

The conference was attended by: Archimandrite Feodosiy (Kuryanov), rector of the St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Uralsk; Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), dean of the Astana church district; spiritual father of the Astana women's monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost" Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov); member of the Patriarchal Commission for Physical Culture and Sports, Hegumen Philip (Moiseyev); secretary of the Kostanay diocese Hieromonk Gennady (Burduzha); head of the public relations department of the Karaganda diocese Hieromonk Moses (Patrikeyev); Abbess of the Iversko-Seraphimovsky Convent, Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) with the sisters of the convent; Abbess of the Znamensko-Abalatsky Peter and Paul Convent in the city of Semipalatinsk, Abbess Marionilla (Pomelnikova), and Abbess of the Pokrovsky Convent in the city of Uralsk, Abbess Varvara (Morozova) (Ural Diocese); Abbess of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in Karaganda, Abbess Olympiada (Salopeko) (Karaganda Diocese), Abbess of the Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost" in Astana, Nun Sevastiana (Plotnikova), Abbess of the Peter and Paul Monastery in Pavlodar, Nun Seraphima (Bolibok) (Pavlodar Diocese), monastics of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

Opening the forum, Metropolitan Alexander addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. "I greet the organizers and participants of the traditional monastic conference of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, which is being held with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. The topic of the current meeting of Kazakhstani monastics is very relevant - we will discuss with you the issues of replenishing the monasteries with new brothers and sisters. Monasticism is the ideal of the evangelical life in Christ. As St. John Climacus says: "The light of monks is the angels, and the light for all people is the monastic life." Therefore, our monasteries are called to become centers of pilgrimage, catechesis, charitable and spiritual-educational work. This is the common task of all monastics, regardless of where a person who has dedicated himself to God labors - in a monastery, in a parish or in diocesan departments. At present, the understanding of Christianity as a religion of purely personal, individual salvation is spreading and taking root with particular force. Often, such a distorted perception of spiritual life displaces concern for the salvation of one's neighbor and turns into spiritual egoism. True Orthodox asceticism is alien to this. True monks do not withdraw into themselves, but warm the whole world with their prayers and labors. Saint Silouan the Athonite speaks about true asceticism: “Whoever bears the Holy Spirit within himself pities every creation of God, and especially people who do not know God.” It is high time for monastics to think about this, to try to more deeply understand the meaning of their renunciation of the world and the measure of responsibility before God and their neighbors. According to the words of the Gospel, “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). I wish that the meaningful speeches of the speakers, the exchange of thoughts within the framework of the discussion will help us to identify current problems and outline ways to resolve them. To all of us - successful and fruitful work,” - was said, in particular, in the speech of Metropolitan Alexander. After His Eminence's speech, the following reports were presented to those gathered:
• "The Main Problems of Creating Monastic Communities in Kazakhstan" – Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen;
• "Missionary Activities of Monasteries as a Way to Replenish the Brotherhood of the Monastery" – Vicar of the Astana Diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan;
• "Spiritual Guidance as Formation of the Spiritual Culture of Monastics" – Vicar of the Astana Diocese, Bishop Veniamin of Talgar;
• "Temptations and Temptations of the Modern World as Obstacles to Entering a Monastery" – Member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, Hegumen Philip (Moiseyev);
• "Spiritual and Personal Qualities Necessary for Monastic Life" – Confessor of the Astana Convent in Honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost" Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov).

At the end of the conference, the participants discussed the proposed reports, after which a discussion took place on a wide range of issues.

A final document was adopted at the end of the meeting.