The funeral service for Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola took place

February 1, 2025. Kokshetau. After the Divine Liturgy, the funeral service for the newly departed Archbishop Serapion (Kolosnitsyn) of Kokshetau and Akmola took place in the Resurrection Cathedral.

The funeral service, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', was led by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The head of the Metropolitan District was assisted by: Archbishop of Karaganda and Shakhty Sebastian, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian, Bishop of Chimkent and Turkestan Chrysanthus, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Talgar Veniamin; Dean of the capital's parishes Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the city of Almaty Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in the city of Shchuchinsk Archimandrite Nikolai (Karpov), Rector of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara in the city of Akkol Archpriest Alexy Zholudev, Rector of the Church of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth in the city of Yereimantau Archpriest Vasily Kachankin, Secretary of the Karaganda Diocese Archpriest Dmitry Patrikeyev, Rector of the Church of the Holy Martyr Eleutherius of Rome in the city of Stepnogorsk Archpriest Igor Shaporev, Sacristan of the Astana Cathedral Archpriest Dimitry Baidek, Sacristan of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Astana Archpriest Sergiy Kaliyev, head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov, clergy of the Kokshetau and Astana dioceses.

The liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Dormition Cathedral of Astana under the direction of O. Varentsova.

The parishioners of the cathedral and numerous believers from the cities and villages of the Akmola region gathered to perform the funeral prayer and say goodbye to the late Archbishop Serapion.

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan Archbishop George Panamthundil and the Deputy Akim of the Akmola region D.E. Aitbayev arrived to honor the memory of the archpastor.

Before the funeral service, Metropolitan Alexander read out the condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', after which he addressed the congregation with a word about the late Bishop Archbishop. "The news of the tragic death of Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola echoed with deep sorrow in our hearts. As it is sung in the rite of Christian burial, suddenly the terrible hour of death came and sorrow filled the souls of all who knew, respected and loved the late archpastor - a zealous worker in the field of Christ, who set a good example of serving God and neighbor, a modest and hardworking man. Holy Scripture testifies: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. "They will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them" (Rev. 14:13). The works of the late hierarch are almost forty years of service at the throne of the Lord, twelve of them in the dignity of bishop in Kazakhstan, concerns for the construction and beautification of churches, daily care for spiritual children, constant teaching of the clergy and parishioners to act as children of light, in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Eph. 5:8-9). The late archpastor labored with burning heart for the good of Orthodoxy in his native Kazakhstan land. In his memory, he kept the image of the ascetic of piety Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) and the edification of the spiritual elder and spiritual father Archimandrite John (Krestyankin). The Bishop was honored to join the brethren of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and to receive monastic tonsure at the shrine with the relics of the Venerable Abba Sergius. Following the precepts of the fathers and mentors, he invariably tried to fulfill the will of God through obedience to the hierarchy, pleasing not himself, but God and people. Through his efforts, the majestic Resurrection Cathedral was erected in the city of Kokshetau. This temple can be called one of the most beautiful church buildings in our country. In the parishes of the Kokshetau Akmola Diocese, he sought to create an atmosphere of Christian love and peace. Now he was born for eternity. The Lord graciously granted His faithful servant, shortly before the end of his earthly existence, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and partake of the Life-Giving Mysteries, "for the remission of sins and for eternal life." Let us pray earnestly to the Savior of the world for the repose of the newly departed archpastor in the heavenly abodes, where there is no illness, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting,” the Metropolitan noted in his speech.

In accordance with the rite of the archpastoral funeral service, after the singing of the Great Doxology, the Head of the Metropolitan District read the prayer of absolution. The service ended with the proclamation of “Eternal Memory.”

Deputy Akim of the region D.E. Aitbaev read out the condolences of Akmola region Akim M.M. Akhmetzhanov. “Vladyka Serapion dedicated more than 10 years to serving in the Kokshetau and Akmola diocese. He made a great contribution to strengthening peace and harmony in our society. Vladyka Serapion gave his all for the good of the diocese entrusted to him, remaining an example for the younger generation of clergy. Akmola residents knew him as a wise and sensitive spiritual mentor, whose word brought light to hearts and supported them in difficult times. His departure is a heavy loss for all believers of the Akmola region,” as the condolences of the head of the region said.

Archbishop Serapion was buried at the altar of the oldest church in the Kokshetau diocese – the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael in the city of Kokshetau.

During the day, the clergy of the diocese held funeral litias at the burial site of the archpastor; believers brought flowers and lit candles.

On the same day, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan held a series of meetings with the heads of diocesan departments and commissions, at which current issues of the activities of the Kokshetau diocese were considered.