On September 16-18, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was accompanied on the trip by Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsky and Kolomna, Head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for Dioceses in Neighboring Countries; Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, Personal Secretary to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov), Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Archpriest Andrey Bondarenko, Head of the Patriarchal Protocol Service; and Archpriest Andrey Bondarenko, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations. with the society and the media V.R. Legoyda, Deputy Head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia N.I. Derzhavin.
On September 16, at Astana International Airport, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was met by Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.S. Ashimbayev and Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.
His Holiness had a conversation with Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Sagatkhanuly Ashimbayev at Astana International Airport.
On September 17, on the eve of the opening of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev. The conversation took place at the residence of the head of Kazakhstan "Akorda" in Astana.
For his contribution to strengthening spiritual ties between the two nations and as a sign of special respect, the President of Kazakhstan awarded His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the Republic's highest award, the Order of Altyn Kiran (Golden Eagle).
Then the opening ceremony of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on the theme "Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the future" took place. The interreligious Forum was attended by more than 100 religious leaders from 60 countries. The event was attended by a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who spoke at the opening of the Congress.
On the sidelines of the congress in Astana, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with leaders of various religious communities. On September 17, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nauryzbai kazhi Taganuly and Chairman of the Board of Muslims of the Caucasus Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade. The next day, on the sidelines of the forum, His Holiness met with Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Roman Catholic Church.
On the evening of September 17, His Holiness met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.N. Borodavkin in Astana.
On the same evening, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill held a meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.
On September 18, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill performed the rite of minor consecration of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The temple is part of the spiritual, cultural and educational center of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan under construction in the capital of Kazakhstan in honor of All saints who shone forth in the land of Kazakhstan.
In the afternoon, the closing ceremony of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place at the Independence Palace in Astana. The ceremony, which was led by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.-J.K. Tokayev, was attended by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Addressing the audience, His Holiness expressed satisfaction with the results of the interreligious forum, and also thanked the President of Kazakhstan, K.-J.K. Tokayev, and all those involved in organizing the congress.: 
On the evening of September 18, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated a prayer service at the Assumption Cathedral in Astana. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church gave the Pontifical blessing from the porch of the Assumption Cathedral to the faithful gathered in the square in front of the temple. Prayer singing was performed in front of the ark with the relics of the new martyrs and confessors of Kazakhstan.
The final point of the official program of His Holiness's stay in Kazakhstan was a visit to a reception on behalf of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and Akim of Astana, Zh.M. Kasymbekov. After the reception, His Holiness the Patriarch headed to the airport, where the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was escorted by Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.S. Ashimbayev, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan A.N. Borodavkin, and other officials.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia left for Moscow from Astana.