Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan congratulates the dean of the churches of the Almaty ecclesiastical district, Protopriest Valery Zakharov, on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination

On July 27, 2025, in Almaty, Mitred Protopriest Valery Zakharov – rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral and dean of the churches of the Almaty ecclesiastical district – celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of his pastoral service. The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, sent Protopriest Valery a congratulatory message:

Your High Reverence, dear Father Valery,

I cordially congratulate you on a special day in your life – the 50th anniversary of your priestly ordination!

Fifty years ago, you were called to pastoral labor in the Lord’s vineyard. From the hands of one of the most prominent hierarchs of the 20th century – the ever-memorable Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) – you received the sacred ordination and became a servant of “the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Responding to God’s call, you dedicated your life to the Holy Church, which at that difficult time was fulfilling its salvific mission under various restrictions and administrative control by the state. The Lord granted you spiritual and physical strength, courage and wisdom, patience and perseverance, thanks to which you steadfastly endured the hardships and tribulations of those years. From that time to this day, you have served zealously, preached with inspiration, and borne dignified witness to the eternal Gospel truths.

You may rightly be called a witness of an era – the Chief Shepherd Christ granted you the remarkable opportunity to communicate with the confessor of the faith, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), and to receive spiritual lessons from him and other ascetics of piety. You saw Orthodoxy in the shackles of atheist power and were blessed to become a witness and participant in the revival of the faith on the blessed land of Kazakhstan.

This same year marks fifty years of your service at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty. You have consistently cared for the church dear to your heart, preserved ancient liturgical traditions, and have been zealous about the enlightenment of children and youth. The Sunday school you established at St. Nicholas Cathedral is today a flagship of elementary church education in Kazakhstan. You stood at the origins of the diocesan theological school, which later became the present-day Almaty Seminary. Your deep theological knowledge and extensive life experience continue to be in demand – your lectures, talks, and public addresses are listened to with genuine interest by both students and clergy.

It is heartening to note that today, as before, in all circumstances you strive to serve as an example of spiritual steadfastness, devotion to God, and fidelity to your calling, diligently laboring so that the word of the Lord may continue to spread and be glorified (2 Thess. 3:1). Therefore, your authority among fellow pastors is so high, the love of the flock for you so sincere, and the public recognition so broad. Your many years of service have been honored with high ecclesiastical and state awards and marks of recognition. On the occasion of this milestone, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, has awarded you one of the highest ecclesiastical honors – the Order of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, First Class.

On the day of your golden jubilee of pastoral ministry, I wish you, dear Father Valery, that through your care, God’s people may grow in righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, and meekness (1 Tim. 6:11).

May the merciful Lord, through the prayers of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and the Holy Confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Almaty, grant you and your family and loved ones health, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). Many and blessed years to you!