Metropolitan Alexander Served a Lity at the Coffin of the Newly-Reposed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko)

April 24, 2025. Uralsk. The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, arrived in the principal diocesan city of the Uralsk and Atyrau Diocese.

At the Feodorovsky Church of the Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Alexander served a memorial lity at the coffin containing the body of the newly-reposed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko).

Joining the Head of the Metropolis in prayer for the departed hierarch were: Bishop Veniamin of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Almaty Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; clergy of the Uralsk and Astana Dioceses; Abbess Varvara (Morozova), Superior of the Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God, together with the sisters of the monastery.

Afterward, at the coffin of the newly-reposed Archbishop Anthony, the clergy continued the uninterrupted reading of the Holy Gospel, as prescribed by ancient liturgical tradition. Several Gospel passages were read personally by Metropolitan Alexander.

In his address concerning the departed hierarch, Metropolitan Alexander, in particular, said:

“At the dawn of Kazakhstan’s independence, in 1991, Vladyka Anthony became the head of the newly-formed Uralsk Diocese, which at that time united the parishes of five regions of the Republic. For more than three decades, he labored with zeal and heartfelt dedication in the work of proclaiming the Gospel, invariably striving to fulfill his ministry ‘in purity, in understanding, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love’ (2 Cor. 6:6). A great number of Kazakhstan’s people, regardless of nationality and religious affiliation, respected and valued Vladyka. His many years of work aimed at affirming the ideals of goodness and mercy in society, his efforts to strengthen friendship among peoples, were recognized with high ecclesiastical and state awards, as well as with the titles of ‘Honorary Citizen’ of the West Kazakhstan Region and the cities of Uralsk and Atyrau. His great life wisdom, openness, sociability, and tireless concern for all aspects of church life in the region earned the departed archpastor the love of his spiritual children, the clergy, and the faithful.”