The Ministry of the Vicars of the Astana Diocese on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Feast of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church

February 9, 2025 – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee; Commemoration of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church; Remembrance of the Translation of the Honorable Relics of St. John Chrysostom from Comana to Constantinople.

By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the vicars of the Astana Diocese celebrated divine services in the churches of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were: Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Spiritual Father of the Almaty Diocese; Protopriest Alexander Suvorov, Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Public Relations Department; Priest Andrey Shklyar, Deputy Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Deacon Andrey Pleten; Hierodeacon Sophonius (Mazurenko); Deacon Alexander Piven.

The liturgical chants were performed by the Metropolitan District Choir (choirmaster – Honored Artist of Russia O. N. Ovchinnikov, choir conductor – V. Dudareva) and the Choir of the Ascension Cathedral (choirmaster – N. Zubrevich).

During the divine service, fervent prayers were offered for the repose of hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and all Orthodox Christians “who were tortured and slain during the time of fierce persecution by the godless, who perished from hunger, cold, wounds, diseases, and unbearable labor in camps, prisons, and captivity.”

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a magnification was sung to the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church.

Bishop Gennady then delivered a sermon on the saints of the Orthodox Church who shone forth in the feats of martyrdom and confession in the 20th century.

The hierarch warmly congratulated Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov) on his name day, wishing him God’s help in his pastoral labors and obediences.

At the end of the divine service, the archpastor served a memorial litia for all who suffered for the Christian faith in the time of persecution.

Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Taldykorgan.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Priest Alexander Matlashov; Priest Igor Lazgiev; Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy; Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

The choir of the John the Theologian Cathedral sang under the direction of Yu. S. Lazukina.

During the Liturgy, fervent prayers were also offered “for the repose of hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and all Orthodox Christians who were tortured and slain during the time of fierce persecution by the godless, who perished from hunger, cold, wounds, diseases, and unbearable labor in camps, prisons, and captivity.”

At the conclusion of the divine service, a magnification was sung to the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church.

The clergy and faithful chanted eternal memory to all the innocent martyrs and those slain during the years of persecution against Orthodoxy.

Bishop Klavdian congratulated the clergy and faithful on the Sunday that marks the beginning of the preparatory period for Great Lent and addressed those gathered with an archpastoral word.

Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John Chrysostom in the village of Astrakhan in the Akmola region, which was observing its patronal feast.

Concelebrating with the hierarch were: Priest Konstantin Brilov, Rector of the Church of St. John Chrysostom; Deacon Uar Zhazitov.

During the commemoration litany, fervent prayers were offered for the repose of hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and all Orthodox Christians “who were tortured and slain during the time of fierce persecution by the godless, who perished from hunger, cold, wounds, diseases, and unbearable labor in camps, prisons, and captivity.”

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the archpastor, clergy, and a multitude of worshipers processed in a cross procession around the church, after which a supplicatory prayer service was offered to St. John Chrysostom.

Following the divine service, Bishop Veniamin congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the patronal feast and delivered a sermon.