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→Founding of the Metropolia
==Founding of the Metropolia==
Following the designation of Astana as the new capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan the seat of the Eparchy of Alma-Ata and Semipalatinsk was transferred from Almaty to Astana, while the diocese itself was renamed the Eparchy of Astana and Almaty. In July 2010 the Eparchies of [[Eparchy of Astana and Almaty|Astana]], [[Eparchy of Chimkent and Akmola|Chimkent]], [[Eparchy of Karaganda|Karaganda]], [[Eparchy of Kostanai|Kostanai]], [[Eparchy of Pavlodar|Pavlodar]], and [[Eparchy of Uralsk and Guryevskiy|Uralsk]] were formally organized by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church as the Metropolia of Kazakhstan, with the recently enthroned Archbishop of Astana being elevated to the rank of metropolitan and first hierarch of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.
The Metropolia was established to better organize the life of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan. Although not autonomous or self-governing, the Metropolia has its own statute approved by the Holy Synod and is responsible for coordinating the educational, publishing, social outreach, and missionary efforts of the Kazakh Orthodox Church.
