Liturgical Service of the Vicars of the Astana Diocese on the Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the vicars of the Astana Diocese celebrated the liturgical services for Palm Sunday, the Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, in the churches of the Southern Capital.

On April 13, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Almaty.

His Grace was concelebrated by: the Dean of the Almaty church district and Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Protopriest Valery Zakharov; the Key Priest of the Cathedral, Protopriest Igor Svetlichny; the Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, Priest Ioann Livinsky; Hierodeacon Athanasius (Kozel); and Deacon Ioann Churkin.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas under the direction of O. Solomonova.

The Liturgy concluded with the glorification of the feast: the choir and clergy sang the troparion and kontakion of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. The blessing of willow branches then followed.

At the end of the service, Bishop Gennady expressed gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for the common prayer and addressed the faithful with words of spiritual edification.

Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Liturgy at the representation of the Taldykorgan Vicariate – the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Alatau district of Almaty.

The archpastor was concelebrated by: Hegumen Gavriil (Tutberidze); Protopriest Vladimir Glukhikh; Priest Nikolai Matlashov; Hierodeacon Veniamin (Vdovin); and Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

The choir of the Church of the Annunciation sang under the direction of A. Averyanova.

The service was attended by Orthodox residents of the Alatau district and faithful from nearby settlements.

The sermon after the communion verse was delivered by Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, the glorification of the feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem took place. The hierarch read the prayer for the blessing of the willow branches and sprinkled them with holy water.

At the conclusion of the divine service, Bishop Klavdian congratulated the worshippers on the feast and delivered a homily.

Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Karasu district of Almaty.

The hierarch was concelebrated by: the Key Priest of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Priest Roman Burdukov; and clergy of the church: Hieromonk Vladimir (Mishchenko); Hieromonk Levky (Ershov); Priest Evgeny Postrigan; and Deacon Pavel Kornienko.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Southern Capital under the direction of N. Burdukova.

His Grace offered prayers for the increase of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

The Liturgy concluded with the glorification of the feast: the choir and clergy sang the troparion and kontakion of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, followed by the blessing of willow branches.

Bishop Veniamin congratulated the faithful on the feast and delivered a sermon on the spiritual significance of the celebration for every Orthodox Christian.