Fourth Orthodox church to be built in Astana
ASTANA. July 24 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Minister of Public Development Darkhan Kaletayev said at a meeting with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church that a fourth Orthodox church will be built in the Kazakh capital, the ministry's press service said.
"It has been decided to assign a section of land for the construction of a Christian Orthodox church. The site has been chosen and a blueprint is being made," Kaletayev said at a meeting with the patriarch that took place during his visit to Russia.
Astana now has three Orthodox churches: the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Church of St. Constantine and Helena, and the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The patriarch commented on "the wise policy of the president of Kazakhstan aimed at strengthening religious peace and accord in Kazakh society," the press service said.
"It was stressed that the dialogue between the government and religious communities, especially Orthodox Christians, in Kazakhstan is developing constructively," it said.
Kaletayev also talked about the participation of Orthodox representatives in Kazakhstan in the debate on religious activities and religious associations.
"The amendments and addenda are aimed exclusively at minimizing the conditions for the use of religion for destructive purposes and at preventing religious radicalism," the minister said.
Patriarch Kirill talked about Russia's experience with religious education at secondary schools aimed at shaping character, inculcating patriotism, and preventing the spread of alien religious ideology.