The Head of the Metropolitan District met with benefactors of the Almaty Diocese

April 20, 2025. Almaty. Before the Great Easter Vespers in the parish house at the Ascension Cathedral, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan met with benefactors of the Almaty Diocese - General Director of Premier Group LLC D.I. Gorbashev, General Director of Transavia LLC V.I. Matveyev and Director of Groupauto Central Asia A.B. Rusanov.

The meeting was attended by: Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen and Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan; Key-keeper of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty Archpriest Igor Svetlichny; 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 Metropolitan's Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin.

According to tradition, before the start of the solemn service, the benefactors handed over the Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Head of the Metropolitan District.

The Metropolitan congratulated those gathered on the feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and warmly thanked the ktitors for organizing the bringing of the Holy Fire from the holy city of Jerusalem to Kazakhstan. The hierarch noted that this sacred tradition began in 1997. "In Kazakhstani churches, candles are lit and lamps are lit from the sacred flame of Jerusalem. The Holy Fire is a symbol of the Divine presence in our lives, a symbol of ardent faith and good hope for the enlightenment of the human race with the light of the Gospel truth," the archpastor emphasized.

In recognition of their work for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, His Eminence awarded the benefactors with awards of the Metropolitan District: the Order of "Beibitshilik pen Kelisim" (Peace and Harmony) - D.I. Gorbashev and V.I. Matveyev; the Order of "Enbek Ushin" (For Labor) - A.B. Rusanov.

Congratulating the awardees, Metropolitan Alexander noted that God never forgets noble deeds done for the Church of Christ and for the benefit of one's neighbor - their names are written in the Book of Life and become part of the history of the people.

During the conversation, issues of supporting the charitable activities of the diocese, the restoration of shrines and the development of pilgrimage were discussed.

At the end of the event, a group photo was taken.