Department for External Church Relations
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
DECR Communication Service, 17/09/2025
On 17th September 2025, on the threshold of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a meeting took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, Patriarchal Press Service reports.
Greeting the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that their meeting would mark yet another important step towards deeper cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia.
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to you for your decision to be here with us during the Congress. Your participation is, in fact, key to ensuring this forum’s success. We hold you in sincere respect. You know that Kazakhstan and Russia are strategic partners, allies,” Mr Tokayev added.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in response: “Whenever I visit your blessed country, I always experience many positive emotions. Kazakhstan is a friendly country. Indeed, we lived together for centuries. Nowadays we have different states but it does not prevent us from maintaining our bonds of friendship, mutual support and cooperation.”
His Holiness thanked Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm welcome and pointed out that the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church was always associated with promoting peace and mutual understanding between people.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ with the Order of the Golden Eagle (Altyn Qyran) – the highest award of Kazakhstan – in consideration of his contribution to strengthening spiritual ties between the two peoples and as a token of particular respect, official website of the President of Kazakhstan reports.
Attending the meeting were also Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan Area of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administration for Dioceses in Near Abroad Countries; Mr A.N. Borodavkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr M.S. Ashimbayev, Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr R.V. Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ms A. G. Balaeva, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr D.A. Abaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation; and Mr E.H. Kazykhanov, Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan for International Affairs.
Photo by the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
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