The Eldest Nun of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent of Almaty Awarded a High Patriarchal Distinction on Her 100th Birthday

April 22, 2025 – Almaty. Following the festive Divine Service in the Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent in celebration of its patronal feast, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan presented the highest patriarchal award to the eldest nun of the convent and veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Schema-nun Irina (Lyubitskaya).

By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Mother Irina was awarded the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, First Class — the highest award for women in the Russian Orthodox Church — in recognition of her service to the Church, her 100th birthday, and the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.

The ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Attending the ceremony were: the vicar bishops of the Astana Diocese — Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen (Chancellor of the Metropolitan District), Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; Dean of the Churches of Almaty and Rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Protopriest Valery Zakharov; Rector of the Church of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon of the Mother of God Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyov; Sacristan of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral Protopriest Alexander Gaychenya; Rector of the Theophany Church Protopriest Valery Shavrin; Rector of the Paraskeva Church Protopriest Ioann Lopatin; Sacristan of the Saints Peter and Paul Church Protopriest Kirill Shklyar; department and commission heads of the Metropolitan District in holy orders; deans of church districts of the Almaty Diocese; rectors and clergy of Almaty churches; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent with the sisters of the monastery.

Presenting the Patriarchal award, the Head of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan said in particular:

“I sincerely congratulate you, dear Mother Irina, on this special day — your 100th birthday, recently celebrated, and on the upcoming anniversary so meaningful for all of us — the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. On this memorable occasion, we bow with gratitude to all who brought Victory closer through their heroic feats on the battlefield and tireless labor in the rear. In those distant war years — now history — you gave all your strength in caring for the wounded and infirm. The Church of Christ has always held in deep respect the valor of soldiers defending their homeland, the labor of workers and farmers who toiled day and night in the rear, and with gratitude acknowledges the service of doctors and nurses. In the Holy Gospel we hear the words of the Savior: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ The years pass, but the glory of those who defended our country and the world from fascism does not fade. We, the people of the 21st century, must faithfully remember the names of the sons and daughters of our people who secured Victory on the fronts and in the rear, who held on with their last strength and endured the hardest trials. A deep bow to you, Mother Irina, and through you to all veterans of war and labor for your sacrificial and unmatched service.”

Metropolitan Alexander wished Schema-nun Irina health of soul and body, and God’s help in her monastic life and obedience, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

Mother Irina expressed gratitude to the Head of the Metropolitan District for the high award and asked him to convey her thanks to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. She noted that together with the sisters of the convent, she prays daily for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Schema-nun Irina was born in the village of Besedeno, Orenburg Province, on April 18, 1925.

From the early days of the Great Patriotic War, she worked for the Victory in the rear. From 1942 to 1945, she served in military evacuation hospitals opened in Tajikistan for wounded soldiers, and studied in the evenings at a medical technical school in the feldsher department. For her selfless service during the war years, she was awarded the title “Home Front Worker.” From 1947 to 1981, she worked as a feldsher in the emergency medical service in Almaty.

In 1948, shortly after the appointment of the confessor of the faith, Bishop Nicholas (Mogilevsky), to the episcopal see of Almaty, she began serving as a singer on the left kliros of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty. On August 23, 1952, with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas, the renowned Church figure of the mid-20th century, Archimandrite Isaaky (Vinogradov), tonsured her into monasticism. Until 1981, Nun Irina carried out various obediences in the Almaty diocesan administration, combining them with her medical work; she served as a singer at the kliros for more than 60 years.

With the revival of the Iveron-Seraphim Monastery in Almaty in 2009, she became one of its sisters. On April 12, 2011, she was tonsured into the great schema.