Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, who was on a working visit to Alma Ata, visited the Ascension Cathedral on April 10, 2025, at the invitation of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.
Metropolitan Alexander told Sergey Viktorovich about the history of the construction of the Ascension Cathedral, stressing that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the church's return to its rightful owner, the Orthodox Church. Father Klyuchar shared with his interlocutor documentary evidence that during the creation of the cathedral, erected according to the project of the talented architect, engineer A.P. Zenkov, innovative technologies and principles of earthquake resistance were used for that era, thanks to which the cathedral withstood the terrible earthquake of 1911, which destroyed almost all the buildings of the city of Vernon.
During the conversation, the hierarch noted the historical role and importance of the temple in the modern life of Alma Ata and mentioned that the cathedral is included in the list of 100 nationwide sacred sites in Kazakhstan of the presidential program "Rukhani Zhangyru".
During the tour, the archpastor elaborated on the details of the full-scale professional restoration of the temple, which was carried out from 2017 to 2020 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNESCO, with the involvement of local scientists and high-level specialists from Russia, Serbia, Italy, Germany and France. According to the bishop, advanced technologies and high—quality modern materials were used in the restoration of a unique historical and cultural monument, the country's landmark skating rink.
The head of the Metropolitan District said that President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, when visiting the cathedral, highly appreciated this grandiose restoration project, calling it "the rebirth of the national shrine of Kazakhstan."
Sergey Lavrov and the members of the delegation noted the elegance and grandeur of the temple's exterior and the beauty of the interiors, decorated with murals made by talented Palekh isographers under the guidance of V.K. Kurilov, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. Metropolitan Alexander said that modern isographs used sketches by Nikolai Gavrilovich Khludov, a famous iconographer and artist who worked on decorating the interiors of the cathedral and one of the teachers of the first Kazakh professional artist Abylkhan Kosteev, after whom the State Museum of Art in Alma Ata is named.
The head of the Metropolitan District showed the participants of the tour the gift of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church for the 25th anniversary of the return of the Ascension Cathedral to the faithful - the icon "The Image of the Lord Jesus Christ Not Made with Hands."
In front of another shrine of the temple, the Feodorov—Alma-Ata Image of the Most Holy Theotokos, with an exact list of the miraculous icon of the Queen of Heaven revealed, Sergey Lavrov and his entourage lit candles.
The meeting between the head of the Metropolitan Area and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation continued at the parish cathedral. During the conversation, they discussed the upcoming Primatial visit to Kazakhstan of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who is expected to arrive in Astana at the invitation of the head of state K.-J.K. Tokayev to participate in the VIII Congress of World and Traditional Religions. 
For the development of relations between the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Sergey Lavrov the highest award of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District - the Order of Beibitshilik pen Kelisim (Peace and Harmony). "Your rich diplomatic experience and remarkable personal qualities invariably help you successfully solve the difficult tasks currently facing your department. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to you for your active support of the peacemaking ministry of the Orthodox Church, as well as its educational activities in many countries. I hope that your ministry will continue to bear abundant fruits in the field of strengthening peace and harmony between countries and peoples," said the archpastor, presenting the award. — Your bright talent as a diplomat, high professionalism, courage and self-control have earned you sincere and deep respect and universally recognized authority in the international arena. Over the years, you have been successfully building constructive cooperation with foreign partners, promoting justice in international relations and preserving world peace. I am sincerely grateful to you for your sensitive and attentive attitude to church life in the countries of the near and far abroad." The bishop wished Sergey Lavrov good health, peace, prosperity, long life and God's help in his future labors.
The Russian Foreign Minister thanked the hierarch for the kind words and the high award, emphasizing the important role of the Orthodox Church in promoting interfaith dialogue and preserving peace and stability in Kazakh society.: "The Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan is always on guard of the spiritual heritage of the people, is a reliable moral support for citizens and makes an invaluable contribution to the preservation of interethnic harmony. The Russian Foreign Ministry will continue to develop cooperation with the Metropolitan Area and interact with the country's traditional faiths in the interests of strengthening the moral foundation of international relations and ensuring peace and stability at the global and regional levels."
Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova was awarded the Order of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sofia, the heavenly patronesses of Semirechye, for the development of relations between the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
At the end of the meeting, which took place in a warm atmosphere, the head of the Metropolitan District and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia exchanged wishes for health and success in their labors.