ASTANA. 6^th of January. KAZINFORM - Today Nursultan Nazarbaev, the Head of State, sent his greetings to the Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan on the occasion of Christmas, Kazinform informs with reference to press service of the President of RK.

Greetings of N.A.Nazarbaev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan on the occasion of Christmas

Distinguished compatriots, the Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan!

I would like cordially congratulate you on the Great feast of Christmas! Today all citizens of multiconfessional and multinational Kazakhstan celebrate this feast with you.    

Respectful and careful relation to various religions is one of the most important bases of Kazakhstan society. Our country had never witnessed cases of religious, national or racial intolerance. Our state is always concerned all nations living in Kazakhstan to keep their national languages, original culture, customs and traditions, freely express their religious views. Today the citizens of our country build new modern Kazakhstan together not depending on religious and ethnic belonging.

Our country became one of the centers of the dialogue between religions and civilizations of modern world. The third Congress of the leaders of world and traditional religions will be held in summer this year in Astana. 

I would like to note great role of Russian Orthodox Church in spiritual life of the country. New churches are building, Sunday schools function.  

Election of new Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia is to take place soon. This is great event for Russian Orthodox Church. And we sincerely wish the Church to find its new worthy pastor.

Friendship of our nations, unity and harmony of Kazakhstan society helped us to overcome together a lot of problems in time of troubles. I would like to express firm belief that solidary people of Kazakhstan will manage to overcome the current trials and tribulations of world community caused by global financial and economic crisis with dignity and honour.    

I wish all Kazakhstan people good health, family wellbeing and labour success in the Great feast of Christmas!   

I wish peace and quiet will reign in our common home!

The President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan                                  N.Nazarbaev