Kazakh Orthodox Local Synod Meets in Uralsk

The Local Synod of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan has met under its first hierarch, Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana, in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, to discuss issues in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. Among other things the assembled hierarchs approved plans for a September visit by the Kursk-Root Icon and blessed the commemoration of the Astana Icon of the Theotokos.

The Local Synod's session closed with a concelebration of services in Uralsk's Cathedral of the Nativity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Eparchy of Uralsk. More (in Russian) here.

Kazakh Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Cyprus

As part of his visit to Cyprus this past weekend to participate in the consecration of the new diocesan cathedral of the Metropolis of Kykkos Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana and the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan visited the diocesan administrations of the Archdiocese of Nea Justiniana and the Metropolis of Tamassos, during which he met with Archbishop Chrysostomos II (Demetriou) of Nea Justiniana and Metropolitan Isaias of Tamassos. Metropolitan Alexander concelebrated the Sunday Liturgy in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, with Metropolitans Isaias of Tamassos and Nikolai of Plovdiv, with Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos in attendance. More (in Russian) here.

New Diocesan Cathedral Consecrated in Kykkos

This past Saturday hierarchs of the Russian and Cypriot Orthodox Churches concelebrated the consecration of the new diocesan cathedral of the Cypriot Orthodox Metropolis of Kykkos. The services were concelebrated by Metropolitans Nikiforos of Kykkos, Chrysostomos of Kition, Neofitos of Morphou, Vasilios of Constantia, and Isaias of Tamassos of the Cypriot Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; and Metropolitans Theodore of Akhaltsikhe and Savva of Khoni of the Georgian Orthodox Church. More (in Russian) here.

Metropolitan Christopher of Prague Visits Kazakhstan

Over the weekend Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague and the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church visited Kazakhstan, where he concelebrated the Sunday Liturgy in Alma Ata with Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana and other hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan. More on Metropolitan Christopher's visit can be found here and (in Russian) here.

Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Participates in Inauguration of Kazakhstani President

Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana and Kazakhstan participated today in the inaguration of President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev, who is beginning his 4th (or 5th?) term as President of Kazakhstan. More here.

Ecumenical Patriarch Receives Russian Orthodox Delegation

Patriarch Brtholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople received a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Phanar yesterday. The delegation, led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana, visited the Patriarchate and the patriarchal Church of St. George. More here.

90th Anniversary of the ROCOR

The celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) begins today in New York. In addition to various hierarchs of the ROCOR Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Narofominsk, caretaker of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox churches in the Unioted States, will also be participating in the events. The schedule for the anniversary celebrations can be found here.