With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, on July 14, 2026, an International Youth Volleyball tournament opened on the territory of the Baganashil sports complex in Alma Ata.
The event was organized by the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation. The competitions are timed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the finding of the relics of the Holy Martyrs Seraphim and Theognost of Alma Ata and the 30th anniversary of the revival of the Aksai Desert.
The opening ceremony of the competition was led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The tournament is attended by 14 teams bringing together more than 150 young athletes from the dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan Area, Alma Ata Theological Seminary, as well as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Before the start of the competition, the head of the Metropolitan District addressed the audience with words of greeting:
"Youth competitions are part of spiritual, moral and patriotic education. The Church of Christ teaches us that power should never become an instrument of evil or a means of displaying vanity. A true athlete is not someone who knows how to surpass others, but someone who has learned to beat himself.: your habits and emotions, selfishness and laziness.
As it is wonderfully said in the Holy Scriptures in the book of Proverbs, "the long-suffering is better than the brave, and he who controls himself is better than the conqueror of the city" (Prov. 16:32). Therefore, it is very important that our competitions set themselves not only sporting, but also higher goals: fostering in the younger generation a love for their native land and its shrines and striving for a healthy and moral lifestyle.
The head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District presented letters of thanks to the honored guests of the sports competitions. The opening ceremony of the tournament ended with the presentation of the teams and the performance of the anthems of the participating countries. A shared photo was taken to commemorate the event.
On July 16, all participants of the sports competition will make a pilgrimage to Aksai Skete, where they will take part in spiritual celebrations dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the finding of the relics of the Holy Martyrs Seraphim and Theognost of Alma Ata and the 30th anniversary of the monastery's revival. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen will lead the festive service.