On November 8, 2026, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan met with a delegation of scientists and public figures from the Islamic Republic of Iran in Alma Ata.
The meeting was held at the Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. The Iranian delegation included diplomats, teachers and researchers from the country's leading scientific and educational centers.
During the conversation, the guests shared their impressions of visiting the Ascension Cathedral in Alma Ata. Metropolitan Alexander spoke about the history of the temple and its large-scale restoration carried out in 2017-2020 with the participation of specialists from several countries.
A separate topic of the meeting was the history of the Orthodox presence in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The head of the Metropolitan District spoke about the preparations for the 155th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkestan diocese, which will be celebrated in 2027, and recalled the ministry of the Holy Martyr Pimen (Belolikov), Bishop of Vernensky and Semirechensky.
Prior to his appointment to the Vernensky department, the future hieromartyr worked for many years at the Urmia Ecclesiastical Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in Persia. He was engaged in educational activities and the translation of liturgical and patristic texts. According to Metropolitan Alexander, this fact testifies to the long-standing spiritual and historical ties between Kazakhstan and Iran.
Representatives of the Iranian delegation, in turn, spoke about their participation in scientific events dedicated to the legacy of philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi and the development of academic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran.
The meeting participants also discussed the importance of interreligious dialogue, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between representatives of different religious traditions. Metropolitan Alexander noted the special role of Kazakhstan as a platform for interfaith communication and stressed the importance of policies aimed at strengthening social harmony.
At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Iranian delegation invited the clergy of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan Area to participate in an interreligious conference to be held in February 2027 in Tehran.
The meeting ended with an exchange of memorable gifts and was held in a friendly atmosphere.