The Feast Day of the Great Martyr Barbara. Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Representation Church of the Metropolis in Moscow

December 17, 2024 – the feast day of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy Great Martyr Barbara of Heliopolis and Venerable John of Damascus.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov, and their mother Sophia at the Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow – the Representation of the Kazakhstan Metropolis.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Metropolis’ Information Department; Hieromonk Antony (Drobyazko), Sacristan of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov, and their mother Sophia; Hegumen Agafangel (Gagua), Prorector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and Professor; Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev); Hieromonk Daniil (Makagon); Priest Andrey Yakushev, Rector of St. Elijah Church in the village of Yakovlevskoye, Kostroma Region; Protodeacon Sergey Kulikov; Deacon Anatoly Ledenev; and Deacon Roman Frolov.

The choir of the church sang under the direction of Anna Rozhnova.

The staff of the Representation and parishioners of the church prayerfully participated in the service.

The Liturgy concluded with the glorification before the icon of the Great Martyr Barbara.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and faithful on the feast day of the Great Martyr Barbara and delivered a homily. The archpastor reminded those gathered that the saint has been granted by God the grace to protect Orthodox Christians who pray to her from sudden death without repentance and Communion.

The hierarch also offered special congratulations and best wishes to those who bear the name of the Great Martyr Barbara in holy Baptism.