The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated O.N. Ovchinnikov, the Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, on the occasion of his birthday and the 35th anniversary of his regency service

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, extended the greetings. 

His Eminence's greeting reads:

Dear Oleg Nikolaevich,

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your birthday!

"Sing unto the Lord, bless His name, proclaim His salvation day after day" (Psalm 96:2) is the call of King and Prophet David. From your youth, you have chosen the noble path of serving God and people in the field of church music, and you have remained faithful to this calling all your life. In every place where Divine Providence has determined you to perform your work, together with the choirs you lead, you proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14) and testify to the heavenly beauty of Orthodoxy.

This year marks 35 years of your regency service. The beginning of your creative path is associated with the ancient Seraphim Cathedral in Vyatka; later, you led the choir at the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Makarye—the first church in Russia returned to the faithful after decades of godless persecution. For over twenty years, you labored in the ancient land of Kostroma, where you formed a remarkable choir ensemble, called "one of the best choirs of the Russian Orthodox Church" by the late Patriarch Alexy II. For nearly fourteen years under your leadership, the choir of the Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan has been recognized by many music connoisseurs for its high professionalism, and its unique performance style has become beloved by the people of Kazakhstan.

 You combine your regency duties with the responsible office of secretary of the Metropolitan District and work in the Church-Public Council at the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' for the development of church singing. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is well acquainted with your work. His Holiness notes that "wherever you serve, you strive to show both those nearby and afar the beauty and grandeur of Holy Orthodoxy and to introduce them to the rich treasury of spiritual musical culture." Your multifaceted activity has been recognized with high church and secular honors, orders, and medals from Kazakhstan and Russia, which attests to society's recognition of your talents and merits and the special role of Orthodox spiritual music in people's lives.

On this significant day for you, I wish you, dear Oleg Nikolaevich, strength, creative longevity, peace, prosperity, and many years of service to God and people in the field of church and classical musical arts.

Invoking God's blessing, with love in the Lord,

HEAD OF THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, congratulated the secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, O.N. Ovchinnikov, on the anniversary of his birthday and 35 years of regency service.

METROPOLITAN ASTANA AND KAZAKHSTAN