The Holy Synod, having considered the formation of new dioceses in the Republic of Kazakhstan decided to form in Kazakhstan, with the subsequent approval by the Bishops’ Council:
* Within the Karaganda region - Karaganda diocese by selecting it from the Almaty and Shymkent dioceses;
* Within the Kostanai and North Kazakhstan regions - Kostanay diocese by selecting it from the Shymkent and Uralsk dioceses;
* Within the Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan regions - Pavlodar diocese by selecting it from the Alma-Ata diocese.Titles of ruling bishops of new dioceses:
Karaganda and Shakhtinsk; Kostanay and Petropavlovsk, Pavlodar and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Interim management of Karaganda diocese is entrusted to Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander.
Bishop Anatoliy (Aksenov) is defined to be Eminent of Kostanai and Petropavlosvk (Journal No. 96).
Archimandrite Barnabas (Safonov), the governor of Sanaksar monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God of Saransk diocese was elected as Bishop of Pavlodar and Ust-Kamenogorsk (Journal No. 97).
