The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Metropolitan Alexander Celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Main Cathedral of Almaty

On April 7, 2025 — the great Twelve Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos — Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom at the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: the newly appointed Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Protopriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Almaty churches and Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas; Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyev, Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Spiritual Father of the Almaty Diocese; Protopriest Alexander Suvorov, Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Public Relations Department of the District; Igumen Philip (Moiseev), member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports; Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the District; Protopriest Alexander Ievlev; Hieromonk Prochor (Yendovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat; Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacons Andrei Pleten, Alexander Piven, Ioann Zhuchkov, and Georgy Tkachenko.

Present for prayerful veneration and spiritual edification of the faithful was a reliquary containing a particle of the holy relics of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, whose 100th anniversary of blessed repose is commemorated this year by the Orthodox Church. The reliquary also contains sacred items belonging to the confessor of the faith — a piece of his patriarchal koukoulion, part of the coffin in which he was buried, and the pectoral cross worn by the saint during his time as an archimandrite in America.

Praying at the service were: V.M. Kapsamun, Director of the public foundation “Eleos”; staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; benefactors of the diocese; members of the Cossack community; students of the Sunday school of the cathedral; participants in the youth educational project “Svetlitsa”; and parishioners of the cathedral.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District (Choirmaster — Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, Assistant Choirmaster — V. Dudareva), the choir of the Ascension Cathedral (Choirmaster — E. Boguslavets), and the students of the Orthodox music school “Tsevnitza” under the direction of N. Golovina.

The Epistle reading was from the Letter to the Hebrews (2:11–18), revealing the mystery of the Incarnation — that the Son of God became truly human for the salvation of all mankind.

The Gospel reading of the feast (Luke 1:24–38) recounted the Annunciation: the Archangel Gabriel’s appearance to the Virgin Mary and his proclamation of the Incarnation and the birth of the Savior of the world, Christ.

During the Eucharistic Canon, in place of the hymn “It is Truly Meet,” the festal substitute was sung — the irmos of the 9th Ode of the Matins Canon with the refrain. Translated into English, the hymn of the Annunciation reads:

“Proclaim, O earth, the great joy; praise, O heavens, the glory of God. Let not the hand of the impure touch the Living Ark of God, but let the lips of the faithful, never ceasing, sing the Angel’s greeting and joyfully cry to the Theotokos: ‘Truly you are above all, O Pure Virgin!’”

The homily after the Communion verse was delivered by Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov.

Following the Dismissal of the Liturgy, festive hymns were sung in honor of the feast and Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia.

In keeping with ancient Annunciation tradition, Metropolitan Alexander, hierarchs, clergy, parishioners, and children from the cathedral’s Sunday school released white doves into the sky from the steps of the cathedral.

The entire festive service was broadcast live on the YouTube channel “Proobraz,” with support from the public foundation “Eleos” (Director — V.M. Kapsamun).

The broadcast was carried out by the television studio “Semirechye” of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan (Director — Honored Cultural Worker V.L. Posadneva, Cameraman — A. Schmidt); photography was provided by A. Khalin.