On the Feast Day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Head of the Metropolitan District Celebrated the Liturgy at the Iveron-Seraphim Convent in Almaty

On January 15, 2025, the Forefeast of Theophany and the feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery in Almaty.

The commemoration of the Wonderworker of Sarov, along with the feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, is one of the patronal celebrations of the monastery.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, vicars of the Astana Diocese; Protopriest Valery Zakharov, dean of Almaty churches and rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Protopriest Eugene Vorobyov, rector of the Almaty Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; Protopriest Ioann Lopatin, rector of the St. Paraskeva Church and Alexander Nevsky Church; Protopriest Valery Shavrin, rector of the Theophany Church; Protopriest Kirill Shklyar, key-holder of the Peter and Paul Church; Protopriest Anatoly Izmerov, chairman of the Society of Orthodox Physicians of Kazakhstan; Igumen Philaret (Petrochenko), rector of the Iveron Church in Borolday; Protopriest Alexander Zyryanov, dean of the Ili Church District; Hieromonk Pimen (Tkachenko), rector of the St. Xenia Parish in Konaev; Protopriest Alexander Sokolov; Hieromonk Alexy (Cherevtsov), rector of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church in Akzhar; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat; Priest Ioann Livinsky, vice-rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary for Educational Work; Priest Georgy Sidorov, head of the administrative secretariat of the Metropolitan District; Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); Priest Daniil Bobylev, head of the correspondence department of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary; Priest Ioann Konoplev, key-holder of the Adriano-Natalievsky Church; Priest Georgy Rublinsky, key-holder of the Kazan Cathedral; Hieromonk Savva (Kulbakyn); Protodeacons Nikolai Grinkevich and Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacons Ioann Churkin, Bogdan Boyko, Andrey Plakhuta, Roman Karaman, Rustik Yakupov, and Ilya Vorobyov.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, a reliquary containing relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov was brought to the church from the Iveron-Seraphim chapel of the metropolitan’s residence in Almaty for veneration by the faithful. This reliquary included a fragment of the stone on which the elder prayed for a thousand days and nights, a lock of his hair, and pieces of his clothing and vestments. Additionally, for the prayerful comfort of the faithful, a replica reliquary containing the Gifts of the Magi, brought to Almaty from St. Paul’s Monastery on Mount Athos, was also present at the service.

The hymns of the Liturgy were performed by the Sophia Cathedral Choir under the direction of O. Usoltseva.

Praying at the service were Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery of the Southern Capital, along with the sisters of the monastery; staff members of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, led by the Secretary of the Metropolitan District and Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; and parishioners of the church.

The sermon following the communion hymn was delivered by Priest Ioann Livinsky.

The Liturgy concluded with a glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the hierarchs, Abbess, clergy, and parishioners on the patronal feast and delivered a homily.

“St. Seraphim left us many profound and wise teachings that, despite their depth, are simple in essence, based on Holy Scripture and the works of the Holy Fathers. We draw many salvific lessons from the well-known saying of Father Seraphim: ‘Acquire the Spirit of Peace, and thousands around you will be saved.’ The good and righteous spiritual state of a person filled with the Holy Spirit spreads to many. But it is also important to remember that sin, once it enters a person’s heart, gradually infects more and more people. Therefore, in desiring salvation for ourselves and our loved ones, and in striving to eradicate sin and vice from society, we must first begin with ourselves—by leading a virtuous life, acquiring holiness, and being transformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. An essential means of acquiring grace, according to St. Seraphim, is prayer: ‘Prayer above all brings the Spirit of God, and it is the easiest for everyone to perform… Prayer can be practiced by the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the healthy and the sick, the righteous and the sinner alike.’ St. Seraphim calls everyone, through his example and teachings, to follow the path indicated by Christ. He calls us to struggle against sin and our own shortcomings, himself serving as a beacon and lamp for all who seek salvation.” — From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.

ORTHODOX CHURСH OF KAZAKHSTAN

On the Feast Day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Head of the Metropolitan District Celebrated the Liturgy at the Iveron-Seraphim Convent in Almaty

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