On the Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Life-Giving Spring,” the Head of the Metropolis Celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Pokrov Monastery in Uralsk

April 25, 2025 – Friday of Bright Week; the commemoration of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Life-Giving Spring.”

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Paschal Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Feodorov Icon of the Mother of God of the Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God in the city of Uralsk.

At the center of the church was placed the coffin containing the body of the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko), who reposed in the Lord on April 23.

In accordance with ancient liturgical tradition, a Lesser Blessing of Waters was performed before the start of the Liturgy.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Archimandrite Feodosy (Kuryanov), Rector of the Archangel Michael Cathedral in Uralsk; Priest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Almaty Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archimandrite Dionisy (Kozulev), cleric of the Pokrov Convent in Uralsk; Igumen Ilya (Danileyko), Rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, capital of West Kazakhstan; Protopriest Anatoly Robu, Rector of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Uralsk; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; and members of the diaconate.

The choir of the Pokrov Convent, conducted by M. Martynova, sang the liturgical hymns.

Praying during the service were: Igumeniya Varvara (Morozova), Abbess of the Pokrov Monastery, along with the sisters of the convent; parishioners of the churches of Uralsk; and pilgrims from nearby settlements.

During the Augmented Litany, the Head of the Metropolis offered special prayers for the repose of the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko).

After the Communion hymn, Priest Georgy Sidorov addressed the faithful with a sermon.

The Liturgy concluded with the singing of the magnification to the Bright Resurrection of Christ, after which Metropolitan Alexander proclaimed “CHRIST IS RISEN!” in various ancient and modern languages.

In his concluding remarks following the Paschal magnification, the Head of the Metropolis congratulated the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful on the double celebration of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and the Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Life-Giving Spring,” and expressed gratitude to all gathered for their common prayer.

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander served a funeral litia at the coffin of the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko). His Eminence addressed those present, gratefully recalling the labors of the reposed archpastor.

Following the litia, the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful chanted “Memory Eternal” for the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony.