Festive Celebrations in Almaty in Honor of Martyr Agatha of Panormos—Heavenly Patroness Against Earthquakes and Natural Disasters

February 18, 2025 – The Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord, Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Agatha of Panormos and Sicily.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Sofia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were Archbishop Barnabas of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk, Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, Bishop Chrysanthos of Shymkent and Turkestan, and Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau. Also serving were Protopriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Parishes of the Southern Capital and Rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District, rectors of the parishes and clergy of the Almaty Diocese, and clergy who accompanied the visiting hierarchs. The diaconal rank was led by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

The Iveron-Seraphim Convent in Almaty is home to a reliquary containing a relic of the Holy Martyr Agatha of Panormos. On October 13, 2014, this sacred treasure was presented as a gift to the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan by the International Christian Charitable Foundation “Triumph of the Heart,” with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, in response to a petition from Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Martyr Agatha of Panormos is endowed with special grace to protect those who invoke her holy name in prayer from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, and other catastrophes and natural disasters.

The choir of the Sofia Cathedral, directed by O. Usoltseva, chanted the hymns of the service.

Among those praying at the Divine Liturgy were O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan and Honored Artist of Russia; Hegumeness Lyubov (Yakushkina), Abbess of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent, along with the sisters of the monastery; employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; benefactors of the diocese; professors and students of the seminary; and numerous pilgrims and parishioners.

Following the Fervent Litany, a prayer was offered for the protection of the Southern Capital and all of Kazakhstan from natural disasters.

The sermon after the Communion Hymn was delivered by Priest Ioann Livinsky.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a Glorification (Magnification) was performed before the icon of the Martyr Agatha of Panormos and the reliquary containing a portion of her sacred relics.

Polychronion (Many Years) was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; the Primate, hierarchs, clergy, and flock of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan; and the President, authorities, military, and all the people of Kazakhstan.

After the Divine Service, Metropolitan Alexander warmly thanked the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and all the participants for their common prayer, congratulated those gathered on the feast in honor of the Holy Martyr Agatha of Panormos, and delivered a homily.

Throughout the entire day, prayerful veneration before the reliquary containing the relics of the holy martyr continued in the Sofia Cathedral.