Any religion is called to support human morality, Kazakhstan pays great attention to it - Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill

12:10, 19 January 2010

ATY. January 19. KAZINFORM /Yelena Ilyinskaya/ The visit of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to Kazakhstan is of great historical importance. Experts say the visit will promoter strengthening relations not only among the Orthodox believers, but also between the two states as well. As it was reported, the visit of the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church took place January 16-18. The Patriarch planned to start his visit to Kazakhstan from Almaty. But the plane with Patriarch Kirill onboard flew from Almaty to Astana because of heavy fog. Bad weather conditions brought some changes in the program of the visit, and he discovered disposition of Providence in it.

It means, that it was crucial to visit Kazakhstan's young capital firstly, and consecrate newly-built Uspensky Cathedral. According to him, it was an opportunity to give new development to spiritual life.

As is known, Patriarch Kirill arrived in Kazakhstan at the invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. This fact demonstrates the importance and attention Kazakhstan pays to harmonious development of the society on the basis of the principles of tolerance and mutual respect. At the meeting with the Almaty public the Patriarch noted that amid religious extremism and terrorism spread worldwide Kazakhstan's model of ensuring conscience freedom and creation of conditions for the development of various religions in mutual respectful and friendly climate stood apart. The modern Kazakhstan is a multinational and multi-faith country, where over 3,000 religious unions representing 40 confessions are functioning. There is an unusual border between the two largest world religions - Islam and Christianity: the border which unites these religions. The dominant religion of the Kazakh population is, of course, Islam. 1,648 Muslim religious unions and 1,534 mosques are functioning around the country at present. According to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kazakhstan, 9 mln people of 24 nationalities confess Islam. The Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan is the second religious direction on believers' number. Orthodox is practiced by about 30 percent of Kazakhstan's believers. 230 religious unions and 220 parishes are working countrywide.

As the Patriarch noted while consecration of the Uspensky Cathedral in Astana "the new cathedral as many others in Kazakhstan will help in creation and further prosperity of the multinational and multi-faith Kazakhstan". Patriarch Kirill awarded President Nursultan Nazarbayev with "Glory and Honor" order - the highest award of the Russian Orthodox Church - for his contribution to the cathedral's construction and warm attitude towards all believers in Kazakhstan. He did not forget to remember the soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War. He laid a wreath to the Eternal flame at the Glory memorial. As is known, this monument is devoted to 28 guardsmen who died defending Moscow.

As the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan noted "such visits raise the weight of religion in the public eye; owing to them the number of believers and religious unions grows". And they (unions) direct their activity on upbringing morality among the youth.

Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill named his visit as pastoral. The Patriarch noted that he executed his major mission blessing a numerous flock for its charitable acts and beginnings.

Yesterday the Patriarch left for Moscow.

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