December 6, 2024 – Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple; feast day of the Holy and Pious Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, Saint Amphilochius of Iconium, and Saint Mitrophan of Voronezh.
The Holy and Pious Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky is the heavenly patron of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, who was named after this revered Russian duke at his baptism.
Metropolitan Alexander presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Almaty.
Concelebrating with the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan; Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, a vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, a vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Almaty parishes and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana parishes; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Spiritual Father of the Almaty Diocese; Archpriest Evgeny Bobylev, Chair of the Religious Education and Catechization Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and Rector of the Protection Parish; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Publishing Department; and numerous other clergy and deacons.
The holy relics of the Pious Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky were brought to the cathedral for veneration.
The hymns of the Divine Liturgy were sung by the men’s choir of the Almaty Diocese under the direction of A. Piven.
The congregation included O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and Honored Artist of Russia; staff from the diocesan administration; faculty and students of the Almaty Theological Seminary; benefactors of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral; children from the Sunday school of the Church of St. John the Theologian; and numerous faithful from Almaty.
Following the Communion Hymn, Archpriest Valery Zakharov delivered a homily.
The Liturgy concluded with the chanting of the hymns of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple and in honor of the Pious Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Metropolitan Alexander then consecrated newly installed icon cases for the cathedral.
On behalf of the clergy and laity, Bishop Gennady congratulated Metropolitan Alexander on the feast day of his heavenly patron.
In response, Metropolitan Alexander expressed gratitude for the well wishes and asked the faithful to offer prayers for divine assistance in his service to the Church. He then congratulated the clergy, monastics, and laity on the feast day of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Saint Mitrophan of Voronezh, and the afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple.
A polychronion was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the leadership and episcopate of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, the President, the authorities, the military, and the people of Kazakhstan.
At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander bestowed blessings on preparatory students of the Almaty Theological Seminary to wear the cassock.
The Metropolitan also extended personal congratulations to Archbishop Amphilochius on his name day, wishing him good health, divine grace, and strength in his archpastoral ministry.
The Divine Liturgy was filmed by the Semirechye television studio of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (director: Honored Cultural Worker V.L. Posadneva; cameraman: A. Schmidt), and photographs were taken by staff member Alexey Shcheglov.
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