Russian Synod Mentions Kazakhstan's Orthodox Church in Naming Reminder

Last week, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod met in Moscow and briefly referenced the Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan, sparking concern online, Orda.kz reports.

The mention appears in the Synod’s Journal No. 54, which notes that the church in Kazakhstan should follow naming conventions that reflect its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.

This led to speculation on social media that local Orthodox institutions may be required to officially include “Russian Orthodox Church” or “Moscow Patriarchate” in their formal names — a move some users criticized.

Orda.kz reached out to the Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan for clarification. Representatives said nothing would change in practice:

We follow the charter of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, adopted by the Bishops’ Council in 2011. It allows for dual naming: ‘Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan’ and ‘Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.’ These are equivalent. We also use shorter forms like ‘Kazakhstan Metropolitan District’ or simply ‘Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan.’said Archpriest Yevgeny Ivanov, press secretary of the Astana and Almaty Diocese. 

The district is officially registered under both names with Kazakhstan’s Justice Ministry.

Ivanov emphasized that the Synod’s note was merely a reminder about proper documentation procedures.

The Russian Orthodox Church has similar structures — the Belarusian Exarchate, the African Exarchate, and the Central Asian Metropolitan District. The note was about internal paperwork, nothing more, he added.

He also clarified that the Metropolitan District should not be confused with the Astana and Almaty Diocese, which is one of 12 dioceses in Kazakhstan, covering Astana, Almaty, and the Almaty and Jetisu regions.

Earlier in July, former Russian Orthodox Church priest Iakov Vorontsov launched a petition calling for the establishment of a representative office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Kazakhstan.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin