On the Feast Day of the Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Church of Almaty

January 4, 2025 – the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ and the feast day of the Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Alatau district of Almaty, located near the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Bishop Chrisanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan, Dean of Almaty Churches and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; Rector of the Almaty Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” Archpriest Yevgeny Vorobyov; Rector of the Church of St. John the Forerunner in Guldala village, Archpriest Georgy Kharlov; Dean of the Ili Church District, Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov; Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); Priest Nikolai Matlashov; Cleric of the Alexeyevsky Church in Baiterek village, Hieromonk Alexy (Samosenkov); Rector of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Saymasai village, Priest Roman Klyuev; Administrative Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; and Keyholder of the Adriano-Natalievsky Church, Priest Ioann Konoplev. Also serving were Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, Director of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, and Deacon Ioann Churkin.

The liturgical hymns were sung by a mixed choir under the direction of Deacon Alexander Pivеn.

Among those present at the service were Honored Artist of Russia and member of the Patriarchal Church-Public Council on Church Singing Development, O.N. Ovchinnikov, as well as Orthodox residents of the Alatau district and neighboring communities.

During the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander offered prayers for the multiplication of love and the eradication of hatred and malice. The homily following the communion hymn was delivered by Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin).

January 4, 2025, also marked the fourteenth anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Chrisanthus of Vyatka and Slobodskoy, the spiritual father and mentor of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander offered a memorial prayer for the repose of the late Metropolitan Chrisanthus, the first Metropolitan of the Vyatka region.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and parishioners on the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ and delivered a pastoral teaching.

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander performed the rite of blessing for the newly constructed residence of the administrator of the Taldykorgan Vicariate.

The life and labors of the late Metropolitan Chrisanthus (Chepil) are highlighted in an article by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, “A Man of Faith and a Man of the Church.”