Metropolitan Alexander presented church awards to those who worked for the good of Orthodoxy in the Kazakh land

December 11, 2024. Alma-Ata. In the throne hall of the spiritual and cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), church awards were presented to those who worked for the good of Orthodoxy in the Kazakh land and to people celebrating anniversaries and memorable dates in the past year.

The award ceremony was headed by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The event 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 Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Assistant to the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Metropolitan Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration.

Metropolitan Alexander addressed the awardees with a word. “Time flies quickly, the end of the year is approaching and very soon we will celebrate the holiday of peace and God's love for people - the Nativity of Christ. We, in the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, have developed a good tradition - during this period, honoring the clergy and laity with church signs of attention. It is a great joy for me to see all of you today and present you with awards of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. This year is marked by a special, historically significant date - we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty Diocese.

I know how difficult it is sometimes in modern conditions to carry out pastoral work or fulfill other responsible obediences. By the grace of God, thanks to your labors, the life of our diocese is developing. May God grant that the church awards presented to you today will serve to strengthen your zeal in further service to the Mother Church. Everything that we do, we do not for ourselves, but so that our native Orthodoxy may grow stronger and more established, so that as many people as possible may learn about the beauty of the heavenly world, so that the world around us may be transformed by the light of faith in Christ. The Psalmist David teaches us to turn to God in the following way when we do our work, implement our plans, and see the results: “Not to us, not to us, O Lord, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 113:9). I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and ask you not to lose spiritual vigor when you encounter various difficulties and difficult circumstances. “God is with us!” – these words, which will often be heard during the Christmas holidays, are the absolute reality of the life of an Orthodox Christian. The Lord is with each of us, enlightens, gives strength, helps when we turn to Him with prayer and hope. I wish everyone God's mercy and blessed success in service, labors, various activities for the good of the Church and neighbors, for the good of our native Kazakhstan," said the hierarch.

After the welcoming speech, Metropolitan Alexander presented church awards.

The Order of the Holy Confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan was awarded to:

• Dean of the Uzung-Agash Church District, Archpriest Gennady Kadnikov;
• Rector of the Michael the Archangel Church in the village of Turgen, Hieromonk Varsonofy (Larionov);
• Rector of the Seraphim Church in the village of Chapayevo, Archpriest Alexander Ageyev;
• Archpriest Sergiy Desyatov, cleric of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Almaty;
• Deputy Chairman of the Diocesan Commission for Social Service, cleric of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in the Southern Capital, Priest Vyacheslav Isikov.

The following were awarded the Order of the Holy Martyr Pimen, Bishop of Vernoye and Semirechensk:

• Priest Alexander Triandofilov, cleric of the Epiphany Church in Almaty;
• Hieromonk Isaac (Istelyuyev), cleric of the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty;
• Hieromonk Roman (Chistyakov), cleric of the Ascension Cathedral.

The Order of Saint Sophronia, Archbishop of Turkestan, was awarded to:

• Chairman of the Commission for Educational Service of the Astana and Alma-Ata Diocese, Rector of the Vladimir Parish of the Chemolgan Station, Archpriest Sergiy Kazimirov;
• Cleric of the Church of St. John the Theologian in the Southern Capital, Hieromonk Gennady (Solovyov);
• Vice-Rector for Research at the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences A.P. Solovyov.

Rector of the Iveron Church in the village of Boraldai, Hegumen Filaret (Petrochenko), was awarded the Order of the Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda; cleric of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Hieromonk Levkiy (Ershov) – the Order of the Venerable Martyrs Seraphim and Theognost of Alma-Ata.

The Order of "Yntaly Kyzmet Ushin" (For Diligent Service) was awarded to the key-keeper of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya and cleric Hierodeacon Stefan (Popov).

The cleric of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, Priest Dimitry Rezhepa, was awarded the Order of "Enbek Ushin" (For the Labor).

The Director of the Central Sunday School of Almaty, G.V. Cherepanova, was awarded the Order of "For Services to the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan".

On behalf of those awarded, Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya expressed words of gratitude to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, thanking the archpastor for his high trust and paternal care.