The Funeral Service for Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko) Was Held

April 26, 2025. Uralsk.

Following the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, the funeral service for the newly reposed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko) took place.

The funeral service was led, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, by the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Serving alongside the Metropolitan were: Bishop Nicholas of Salavat and Kumertau (Bashkortostan Metropolia); Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Claudian of Talgar, vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Protopriest Eugene Vorobyov, rector of the Almaty Church of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon of the Mother of God; Archimandrite Theodosius (Kuryanov), rector of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael in Uralsk; Archimandrite Dionysius (Kozulev), cleric of the Pokrovsky Convent in Uralsk; Igumen Elias (Danileyko), rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the capital of Western Kazakhstan; Protopriest Anatoly Robu, rector of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Uralsk; Igumen Dorotheus (Dilmanaev), head of the Information Department of the Uralsk Diocese; Priest George Sidorov, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; clergy of the Uralsk Diocese and clerics of the Orenburg Metropolia; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, head of the Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

The faithful who gathered to offer their prayers and bid farewell to the late archpastor included parishioners of the cathedral, numerous believers from the towns and villages of Western Kazakhstan, and representatives of the Cossack community.

Also present to pay respects to the late hierarch were: Apostolic Administrator Monsignor Peter Sakmar and representatives of government authorities.

Before the funeral service, Metropolitan Alexander read the message of condolence from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, after which he addressed the assembly with a word about the late Archbishop Anthony:

“During this time of Paschal joy, when the visible and invisible worlds rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, the Creator and Sustainer of all has called His faithful servant, Archbishop Anthony, the senior hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, from temporal life into eternity.

The late archpastor lived a long life rich with many events. In his youth, after receiving an education at Krasnoyarsk State University and then at the Moscow Theological Academy, he heeded the call of Christ the Chief Shepherd and took up the cross of service to the Holy Church.

By Divine Providence, he was appointed to various ecclesiastical obediences—he served in the churches of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese, was the rector of the Cathedral of St. Vladimir in Kyiv, and served as Chancellor of the Ukrainian Exarchate. Forty years ago, by the will of the ecclesiastical authorities, his episcopal consecration took place.

At the dawn of Kazakhstan’s independence, in 1991, Vladyka Anthony became the head of the newly established Uralsk Diocese, which at that time united parishes across five regions of the Republic.

For more than three decades, with diligence and fervor of heart, he labored in the field of Gospel preaching, always striving to fulfill his ministry ‘in purity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love’ (2 Corinthians 6:6).

His many years of labor to uphold the ideals of goodness and mercy in society, as well as his efforts to strengthen friendship among peoples, were recognized with high church and state awards, and he was honored with the title of ‘Honorary Citizen’ of the West Kazakhstan Region, and the cities of Uralsk and Atyrau.

During the days of the Paschal celebration, when the ‘doors of Paradise are opened to us,’ Archbishop Anthony was born into eternity. Let us fervently pray to the Risen Savior for the repose of the newly reposed hierarch in the Heavenly habitations,” Metropolitan Alexander noted.

According to the order of the archpastoral funeral rite, after the singing of the Great Doxology, the Metropolitan read the Prayer of Absolution. The service concluded with the proclamation of “Eternal Memory.”

The coffin with the body of the late hierarch was carried around the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael to the singing of the Paschal irmoi.

According to his will, Archbishop Anthony was buried at the altar of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

Throughout the day, memorial lityas were offered at the site of his burial by the clergy of the diocese; believers laid flowers and lit candles.

After the funeral rites, Metropolitan Alexander departed for the “Mining Capital,” where celebrations will be held in honor of the feast of St. Sebastian of Karaganda.