An exhibition dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan was opened in Alma-Ata

September 30, 2024. Alma-Ata. The exhibition "Work hard, pray hard, and do good to people" was opened in the foyer of the Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) Spiritual, Cultural and Administrative Center.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the archpastoral service of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. In 1989, the episcopal consecration of Bishop Alexander took place in the Yelokhovo Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, it was headed by the ever-memorable Metropolitan Vladimir of Rostov and Novocherkassk (later the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church).

The exhibition was organized by the Almaty Theological Seminary together with the information and publishing department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan took part in the opening of the exhibition.

The presentation was attended by archpastors - participants in the celebrations dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Almaty Diocese: Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Kirill, Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asia Sergius, Administrator of the Affairs of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Talgar Veniamin.

The event was also attended by: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; Dean of the churches of Almaty, Rector of the Nikolsky Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Rector of the Church in Honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the city of Almaty Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Head of the Department of Education and Catechesis of the Metropolitan District, Rector of the Church of the Intercession and the Church in Honor of the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God Archpriest Evgeny Bobylev; Acting Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Vice-Rector for Educational Work Priest John Livinsky; Vice-Rector for Academic Work Priest Peter Bakhtiyarov; Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; the head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; employees of the Alma-Ata diocesan administration and students of the Alma-Ata seminary.

One of the organizers of the exhibition, Priest John Livinsky, expressed words of good wishes to Metropolitan Alexander on behalf of all those present.

“For many years, you have been performing apostolic work with zeal and love, following the ideals of your heavenly patrons - the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky and the venerable Alexander Svirsky. Through your tireless efforts, churches are being restored and majestic cathedrals are being built, church-state and interfaith dialogue is successfully developing, and the church social service program is being implemented. With the example of your virtuous life, you testify to the eternal Gospel truths, calling people to follow the commandments of Christ. On these joyful days for your flock and numerous spiritual children, we pray for your health and prosperity. May the All-Merciful Lord, through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the saints, grant you His gracious help in carrying out your hierarchical labors for the good of the Mother Church and preserve you for many years."

The head of the Metropolitan District thanked Father John and the participants of the event for their congratulations.

"I thank the organizers of the exhibition for the gift for the 35th anniversary of my archpastoral ordination. Remembering the milestones of my service and those remarkable hierarchs whom I was fortunate to meet on my life's path, I want to say that a bishop, as biographers testified about the Moscow Saint Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov), must "be a bishop 24 hours a day." My holy predecessor in the Kazakh diocese, Schema-Archbishop Anthony (Abashidze), loved to repeat: “Episcopal power was given to me not to punish, but to forgive.” This statement is consonant with the words with which Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) instructed me after the performance of the archpastoral consecration: “Do not rush to exercise your power, to punish, to forbid… Try to reason, to shame, to soften the hearts of the guilty, and let sincere repentance be met with merciful and correcting love.” Encouragement and support in carrying out archpastoral obedience is the realization that all our labors – the diverse activities of the episcopate, clergy, monastics and laity – serve the good and main goal of human life – the salvation of the soul.” After this, Priest John Livinsky informed those gathered about the concept of the exhibition and conducted a tour.

The objects, photographs and documents presented at the exhibition tell about the archpastoral consecration and the years of priestly and episcopal service of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Among the exhibits: panagias presented to Metropolitan Alexander by His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Rus' and Metropolitan Chrysanthus of Vyatka and Slobodsk; the bishop's vestments, mantle, staff and crosier presented during the elevation to the episcopal rank; the Gospel placed on the head of the candidate during the episcopal consecration; antimensions signed by the bishop; pectoral crosses.

The photo materials of the exhibition tell about the Primate's visits to Kazakhstan of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', the episcopal consecrations of new bishops for the dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The photos are interspersed with quotes from the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the President of the Republic K.-Zh.K. Tokayev.

The exhibition will continue its work until October 7. Everyone can visit it. Admission is free.