A Christmas reception was held in the capital of Kazakhstan with the participation of heads and representatives of diplomatic missions

January 14, 2024. Astana. At the spiritual and cultural center named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a reception was held on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year.

The event was led by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

The guests of the holiday were: Vice-Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Zh. Iskakov, representative of the Presidential Administration V.V.Porubaymekh, Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Yu. Volkov, deputy of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan O.A. Bulavkina, member of the Council of Senators under the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan G.D. Karagusova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.N. Borodavkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kazakhstan P.V. Utyupin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Kazakhstan O.S. Leon.

At the invitation of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the festive event was also attended by: the dean of Astana churches Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), the rector of the Almaty church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, the custodian of the Assumption Cathedral of the capital Archpriest Dmitry Baidek, Keyman of the Constantine-Elenin Cathedral Archpriest Sergius Kaliev, head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), clergy of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese, apostolic nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan Archbishop George George Panamthundil, vicar of the Archdiocese of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Astana Bishop Athanasius Schnay der, Archbishop of Evangelical -Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan Yuri Novgorodov.

Metropolitan Alexander cordially congratulated those present on the holiday of God's love - the Nativity of Christ and on the New Year, wishing peace, prosperity, health and success in good deeds and endeavors.

The Bishop told the guests about the activities of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District in 2023, about the socially and culturally significant projects planned for the coming year, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese and the 225th anniversary of the birth of the first hierarch of the land of Kazakhstan, Archbishop Zephaniah ( Sokolsky).

The participants of the Christmas meeting thanked Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan for his good wishes and the opportunity for good communication within the walls of the spiritual and cultural center and, in turn, wished His Eminence, as well as the clergy and believers of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan success in the moral improvement of society, strengthening traditional spiritual values and establishing peace and brotherly love in the country.