An international scientific and practical conference “Traditional family values in the modern world” took place in Almaty

March 16, 2024. Alma-Ata. An international scientific and practical conference “Traditional family values in the modern world” was held in the throne room of the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after St. Joseph (Chernov).

The main goal of the event is to update the problems associated with the preservation of traditional family values at a broad social level in the countries of Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The forum was organized by the cultural department of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan with the support of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary.

The event was moderated by the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan.

The conference, chaired by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, was attended by: the sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral, the head of the Metropolitan District’s public relations department, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov; sacristan of the Assumption Cathedral in the capital of Kazakhstan, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek, rector of the Church in the name of the Hieromartyr Methodius of Peter and Paul, Priest Mikhail Berezin, director of the Central Sunday School of Almaty G.V. Cherepanova, co-chairman of the International Public Organization "Union of Orthodox Women", member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation N.V. Dmitrievskaya, deputy head of the department for interaction of the Church with society and the media of the Tashkent and Uzbekistan diocese, head of the branch of the “Union of Orthodox Women” in the Republic of Uzbekistan N.V. Nikolskaya; Chairman of the Board of the private orphanage "Meerim Bulagy" in the city of Bishkek G.O. Degenbaeva, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Head of the Culture Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District L.E. Goricheva.

The event was attended by: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; dean of the parishes of Alma-Ata, mitered archpriest Valery Zakharov, rector of the Almaty church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, mitered archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, acting Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary Archpriest Evgeniy Ivanov, Vice-Rector for Educational Work Priest John Livinsky, Vice-Rector for Educational Work Priest Peter Bakhtiyarov, city clergy, students of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, employees of the diocesan administration, parishioners of the churches of the Southern capital.

The conference opened with a welcoming speech from Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. In his speech, the Head of the Metropolitan District noted that “the topic of the meeting is truly relevant, since the family is the most important pillar of the harmonious development of society and the fundamental basis of the life of any people.” As the hierarch emphasized, “this circumstance allows us to talk about approaches that largely unite representatives of various religions and people of good will - all who are aware of the need to resist the destructive sinful ideology that is increasingly being propagated in the Western world, where the family is a social institution finds itself in danger of disintegration and degeneration.”

“Modern society,” continued the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, “is often called post-Christian. On the one hand, such a turn of civilization from the Gospel to pagan moral indifference is upsetting and alarming, on the other hand, it encourages us to work hard in the field of spiritual enlightenment.”

According to Metropolitan Alexander, “in this situation, the Orthodox Church is called upon to actively pursue its position - both within the framework of interreligious and church-public dialogue,and in the context of its social activities, internal mission addressed to people who, by virtue of birth and upbringing belong to the Orthodox Churchculture. Today, everyone who professes the most important civilizational principles: faith in one God the Creator, a common understanding of the fundamental principles of human life, deep commitment to age-old traditions, the perception of the family as a union of a man and a woman, the desire for goodness and justice, are our good allies and co-workers.”

At the end of Metropolitan Alexander’s speech, the following reports were presented to those gathered:

- Archpriest Alexander Suvorov “Abuse in an Orthodox family: problems. Features and solutions";
- Archpriest Dmitry Baidek “Traditional family values and modern challenges”;
- Priest Mikhail Berezin “Family counseling in the parish”;
- G.V. Cherepanov “Family values and spiritual and moral education”;
- N.V. Dmitrievskaya “Traditional values are the basis of the unity and well-being of peoples”;
- N.V. Nikolskaya “In the footsteps of the Apostle Thomas. Ministry of Orthodox Women in Uzbekistan";
- G.O. Degenbaeva “On the Great Purpose of Women”;
- L.E. Gorichev “The contribution of the Orthodox Church to the protection of traditional family values in Kazakhstan.”

At the end of the presentations, the conference participants discussed international experience in resolving issues of preserving the traditional family and family values, got acquainted with examples and results of organizing the education of children in various socio-cultural conditions and the best examples of existing pedagogical practice, developed measures to strengthen and develop the traditional family and family values in the modern world .

As part of the forum, a discussion took place on the administrative structure of the “Union of Orthodox Women” in the southern capital. An organization uniting active Orthodox women - wives of clergy, employees and parishioners of churches of the Alma-Ata diocese - was created in 2023 on the initiative of the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. Its main goals and priority areas of activity are: popularization of a healthy lifestyle; solving problems for the development of spiritual and moral education of children and youth; implementation of charitable projects aimed at preserving traditional family values; organization of assistance to socially vulnerable segments of the population.

Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan noted that the work of the Union of Orthodox Women should be carried out in accordance with the Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church. Next, the vicar of the Astana diocese announced to those present the decree of the Head of the Metropolitan District on the appointment of the Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, head of the cultural department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District L.E. Goricheva as chairman of the regional branch of the UOJ. Next, members of the organization's board were elected by those present.

Upon completion of the formation of the administrative structure, members of the women's council outlined a further work plan and summed up the results of the conference.