Former Russian Orthodox Priest Launches Petition for Constantinople Church Presence in Kazakhstan

The initiative was launched by former Russian Orthodox Church priest Iakov Vorontsov, reports Orda.kz.

Vorontsov first proposed the idea of establishing a representative office of another Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan — in addition to the Russian Orthodox Church — back in 2023.

However, as he told Orda.kz, he had to suspend the effort due to a criminal investigation against him.

The case was closed this past spring. On the eve of the renewed initiative, Vorontsov published a video on his YouTube channel urging people to sign a petition to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew requesting the creation of a branch of the Constantinople Orthodox Church — also known as the Ecumenical Patriarchate — in Kazakhstan.

According to Vorontsov, he first addressed the matter to the presidential administration in December 2023, and the letter was forwarded to the Committee for Religious Affairs.

The state body overseeing religious activity replied to me that the creation of a religious association called ‘Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarch’ is the right of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The state does not interfere in the affairs of religious associations and will not support the initiative — that is, no letter from Kazakhstan’s leadership will be sent to the patriarchate. At the same time, the state will not obstruct the citizens' initiative, Vorontsov says in his statement.

He invites anyone — Orthodox Christians and others — to sign an electronic letter addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

At the same time, Vorontsov stresses that he is not seeking to replace one Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan with another.

This is not about existing religious associations, but about creating a new religious association. Not against the Russian Orthodox Church, not in spite of it, not as competition, but in addition, he explains.

According to him, a local representation of the Constantinople Patriarchate may serve Orthodox Christians who, for various reasons, cannot be members of the Russian Orthodox Church — for example, those who disagree with its stance on the war in Ukraine.

The Constantinople Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in the world, headquartered in Istanbul, and has branches in many countries, especially across Asia. In Kazakhstan, Orthodox Christianity is currently represented only by the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Iakov Vorontsov is a former priest of the ROC who publicly condemned its position on the war in Ukraine. The ROC's Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan stripped him of his monastic rank, but Vorontsov considers this action unlawful.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin