Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. Metropolitan Alexander Celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Representation of the Kazakh Metropolitan District in Moscow

December 29, 2024 – Sunday of the Holy Forefathers.

On this day, the Church prayerfully glorifies the ranks of the Holy Forefathers—patriarchs, prophets, kings, and priests from the Old Testament era who were saved by their faith in the coming Messiah, Christ. The commemoration of the Holy Forefathers precedes the celebration of the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, marking the fulfillment of the Old Testament humanity’s anticipation of the coming of the Son of God into the world.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and Their Mother Sophia, located on the Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow—Representation of the Kazakh Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information Department of the Metropolitan District; Hieromonk Antony (Drobyazko), Sacristan of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and Sophia; Igumen Agafangel (Gagua), Prorector of the Almaty Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and Professor; Hieromonk Victorin (Aseyev); Hieromonk Daniil (Makagon); Deacon Anatoly Ledenev; and Deacon Roman Frolov.

The choir of the church and students of the parish Sunday school, directed by Anna Rozhnova, performed the liturgical hymns.

Among those praying were: A.V. Bugayevsky, Chair of the Orthodox Society “Skiniya” and a religious and public figure; F.N. Morulev, Co-chair of the International Charitable Christian Public Foundation “Triumph of the Heart”; M.B. Saliba, Surgeon and Associate Professor at the Department of Faculty Surgery No. 1 of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Clinical Medicine Institute (Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University); staff of the Representation; and parishioners.

During the Litany for the Departed, prayers were offered for Confessor of the Faith Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov, †1975) of Almaty and Kazakhstan, whose name day is celebrated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers.

The homily after the communion hymn was delivered by Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and faithful on the Sunday and the feast of the Holy Forefathers.

Following the service, Metropolitan Alexander met with M.B. Saliba, Surgeon and Associate Professor at the Department of Faculty Surgery No. 1 of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Clinical Medicine Institute, at the Representation’s building.

“Today’s Sunday encourages us to emulate the faith and virtues of the Old Testament saints. Each of us can find, within the pages of Sacred Scripture, good examples, salvific lessons, and correct answers to a wide range of life and worldview questions. Therefore, regular reading and diligent study of the Word of God, based on the writings of the Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church, should become an integral part of our spiritual life. Let us strive, through reflecting on the lives and deeds of the Holy Forefathers, to fruitfully spend the remaining days of the fast so that we may prepare ourselves worthily for the approaching great feast of the Nativity of Christ.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.