The Assumption Cathedral of Astana was visited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov

November 7, 2024. Astana. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov is on a working visit to the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the invitation of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the main temple of the country - the Assumption Cathedral and the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius.

Prior to this, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry was received by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.-Zh.K. Tokayev and held negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.A. Nurtleu. During the visit, the Minister spoke at the Diplomatic Institute of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As part of the delegation accompanying S.V. Lavrov: Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Zakharova Maria Vladimirovna, Director of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Drobinin Aleksey Yuryevich, Director of the Third Department of the CIS countries Sternik Aleksandr Vadimovich and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan Borodavkin Aleksey Nikolayevich.

In the Assumption Cathedral, the distinguished guest was met by the dean of the parishes of the capital, Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), on behalf of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

The dean warmly welcomed Sergei Viktorovich and gave him a tour. Archimandrite Sergiy noted that among the honored guests who got acquainted with the interior of the largest temple in Central Asia were the President of Russia V.V. Putin, heads of foreign states, spiritual and public leaders of different countries.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry was told about the history of the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, in the construction and decoration of which the best craftsmen of Kazakhstan, Russia and the CIS countries took part.

Sergey Viktorovich honored the shrines of the cathedral, including the revered images of the Holy Mother of God: the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God - an exact copy, "measure for measure" from the ancient miraculous image located in the city of Kostroma and the Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Queen of Heaven, symbolizing the heavenly patronage of the Sovereign Lady of the land of Kazakhstan. In front of the shrines, the minister lit candles for the well-being of Russia and Kazakhstan and the successful development of relations between the fraternal countries.

After the excursion, S.V. Lavrov visited the spiritual and cultural center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, where he communicated with Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev) in the fireplace room.

During the conversation, the dean presented the guest with information about the life of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan, which is the second largest traditional confession in the Republic, and spoke about the events that took place as part of the celebration of a significant date in 2024 - the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana diocese. Archimandrite Sergius informed the guest that Astana, Alma-Ata and other cities of the country, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', were visited by a revered shrine - the relics of the blessed nun Matrona of Moscow. The pastor emphasized that over 100 thousand people venerated the shrine in the two main cities of the Republic, and the stay of the ark with the relics of the saint of God within the Metropolitan District is still ongoing, gathering a huge number of believers for worship. A telephone conversation took place between the Russian Foreign Minister and Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, during which the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry cordially congratulated the hierarch on the 25th anniversary of the Astana diocese and a personal significant date in the life of the Head of the Metropolitan District - the 35th anniversary of his archpastoral consecration. Sergei Viktorovich noted the special contribution of the Orthodox Church to strengthening spiritual, cultural and humanitarian ties between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan and thanked the Metropolitan for his personal contribution to the development of Russian-Kazakh cooperation. The Minister noted the importance of uniting the peacekeeping efforts of secular authorities and religious leaders against the backdrop of a tense socio-political situation and the escalation of international conflicts. Metropolitan Alexander and S.V. Lavrov exchanged wishes for health and success in their work.