Eparchy of Shymkent
The Eparchy of Chimkent and Akmola is a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church with jurisdiction over the provinces of Akmola, Qyzylorda, South Kazakhstan, and Zhambyl in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In July 2010, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church established the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan as a metropolia, with the Eparchy of Chimkent and Akmola becoming one of its three constituent eparchies.
History
In 1871, the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkestan was organized as a diocese with its seat in Verne (now called Almaty). Forty-five years later a separate vicariate was created for the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan with its seat in Verne, whilst in June 1945 the Diocese of Alma-Ata (Almaty) and Kazakhstan was established. As the Soviet Union collapsed this diocese was reorganized into three dioceses, with the Eparchy of Chimkent and Akmola being established by the Holy Synod on January 31, 1991.
Eparchy today
The Eparchy today includes 59 parishes, with its seat at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Myra in Chimkent.
Hierarch
- Archbishop Elevferiy of Chimkent and Akmola (1991-present)
External links
- Metropolia of Kazakhstan (Official Website)
- Eparchy of Chimkent and Akmola (Moscow Patriarchate)
