The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District had a meeting with the Akim of the West Kazakhstan Region N.T. Turegaliev

October 8, 2024. Uralsk. A meeting was held in the Akimat of the West Kazakhstan Region between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and the head of the regional executive authority Nariman Turegaliev.

The meeting was attended by: representatives of the Orthodox Church - Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian, Bishop of Uralsk and Atyrau Vianor, Dean of the Uralsk Church District Archpriest Vladimir Garasim, Head of the Metropolitan Protocol Service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; representatives of the secular authority - Deputy of Akim of the West Kazakhstan Region K.E. Mendigaliev, Head of the Department of Religious Affairs of the West Kazakhstan Region A.A. Karatai.

The regional akim thanked Metropolitan Alexander for his visit and expressed gratitude to the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan for caring for the spiritual life of the region, moreover for bringing a significant Orthodox shrine to the West Kazakhstan region - the ark with the relics of the holy blessed nun Matrona of Moscow.

The Metropolitan informed the head of the region that bringing the revered relic by believers to the dioceses of the Metropolitan District is being carried out with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' as part of the celebration of a historical date - the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Alma-Ata Diocese. The hierarch noted that from September 29 to October 7, over 100 thousand people bowed to the relics of the saint of God in Astana and Alma-Ata.

Nariman Turegalievich told Metropolitan Alexander about the life of the region and his participation in the International Ecological Forum, held within the framework of the republican ecological campaign "Taza Kazakhstan", initiated on behalf of the President of the Republic K.-Zh.K. Tokayev.

The meeting participants highly appreciated the organization and holding of the republican referendum on the construction of the nuclear power plant. According to the akim, the national referendum allows citizens to participate directly in decision-making that can significantly affect the future of the country. The number of Kazakhstanis who voted for a positive decision on the issue submitted to the referendum was 5 million 561 thousand 937 people, or 71.12%.

The meeting discussed the elimination of the consequences of the spring floods, which the head of state called the largest disaster in 80 years. The head of the region said that new housing is currently being provided to residents affected by the flood.

The head of the Metropolitan District noted that in the efforts to overcome the consequences of the disaster, the multinational and multi-confessional people of the country demonstrated their noble qualities - unity and cohesion. The Metropolitan Bishop emphasized that the clergy and laity of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan supported the victims in every possible way, worked in rescue teams, participated in the collection and distribution of humanitarian aid.

The archpastors and the akim of the region discussed the current topics of the message of the President of Kazakhstan to the people of the country, which he voiced at a joint session of the chambers of Parliament on September 2. In his address, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich once again emphasized that the main distinguishing features of Kazakhstani society have always been openness and tolerance - fundamental values that underlie the unity and harmony of the people. According to the mutual opinion of the interlocutors, a unique model of friendly relations between people will become the key to the future success of the Republic in the sectors of the national economy, the social sphere and international diplomacy.

The meeting participants noted the importance of cooperation between government bodies, public associations and the leading religions of Kazakhstan - Islam of the Hanafi madhhab and Orthodoxy in strengthening national unity and jointly countering extremism.

At the end of the meeting, N.T. Turegaliev and Metropolitan Alexander exchanged mutual wishes of health, peace and success in serving the people of the country. The hierarch presented the head of the region with his scientific work - the book "History of Christianity in Central Asia" and the calendar of the Metropolitan District for 2025.