The Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Kazakhstan and Central Asia was awarded the Order of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan "Beibitshilik pen Kelisim" (Peace and Harmony)

October 4, 2024. Almaty. In the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a meeting was held between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and the administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of the Holy Trinity in the Southern capital, Bishop Jose Luis Mumbiela Sierra, Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; Acting Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Head of the Metropolitan's Personal Secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Protocol Service Archdeacon Roman Golovin.

Metropolitan Alexander presented Bishop Jose Luis with the Order of "Beybitshilik pen Kelisim" (Peace and Harmony). The Catholic hierarch was awarded a special sign of church attention for his significant contribution to the cause of establishing interfaith peace and interethnic harmony in Kazakhstan.

The archpastor told the guest about the life of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Alma-Ata Diocese in 2024, the activities of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary, and the implementation of various educational and social projects.

The Metropolitan drew the attention of Bishop Jose Luis to the huge number of pilgrims who arrived at the St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Monastery to venerate the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, visiting the borders of Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

Metropolitan Alexander shared with the Catholic bishop his impressions of the meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Archbishop George Panamthundil, which took place in Astana on September 29.

Bishop Jose Luis told Metropolitan Alexander about the life of the Catholic community in Alma-Ata.

One of the significant topics of the conversation was the discussion of an exhibition in Kazakhstan dedicated to the world-famous Christian relic – the Shroud of Turin.

During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on a wide range of issues concerning the role of traditional religions in the life of Kazakhstani society.

At the end of the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the parties exchanged good wishes. Metropolitan Alexander presented the guest with his scientific work – the book “History of Christianity in Central Asia” and the calendar of the Metropolitan District for 2025. Bishop Jose Luis presented the Metropolitan with a catechism published for the Catholic community of the country.