THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE TERRITORY OF KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Abstract.This article explores the history of the introduction, formation, and development of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan as the second largest religious confession after Islam. The study analyzes the major historical stages of its evolution, beginning with the establishment of military fortifications and Russian settler communities in the mid-nineteenth century and continuing to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the creation of the Turkestan Eparchy in 1871, the development of Orthodox church architecture, especially the Ascension Cathedral, as well as the characteristics of Soviet anti-religious policy, repression against clergy and believers, and the peculiarities of the post-Second World War “thaw” period. Special emphasis is placed on the revival of the Orthodox Church after Kazakhstan’s independence, its legal status, and its spiritual and cultural role in contemporary society. The article also presents specific data on the current structure of the Regional Metropolitan District, the activities of its ten eparchies, and the Church’s social, charitable, and educational initiatives.