Metropolitan Alexander Led the Celebrations in the “City of Miners” on the Feast Day of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda

April 27, 2025 — Second Sunday after Pascha (Antipascha); the commemoration of the assurance of the Apostle Thomas; the commemoration of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda, the heavenly patron of Kazakhstan (the celebration transferred from April 19).

The celebrations, centered at the Trinity-Sebastian Cathedral, were led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan were: Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk; Bishop Nicholas of Salavat and Kumertau (Bashkortostan Metropolis); Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Khrisanf of Shymkent and Turkestan; Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the parishes of the capital; Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyov, rector of the Almaty Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Hieromonk Moses (Patrikeyev), Head of the Public Relations Department of the Karaganda Diocese; Protopriest Vladimir Freigang, Dean of the Abai Church District; Protopriest Alexander Ugolkov, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Diocese; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Sacristan of the Cathedral of the Dormition in Astana; Protopriest Sergey Kaliyev, Sacristan of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen; Protopriest Dimitry Patrikeyev, Secretary of the Karaganda Diocesan Administration; Hieromonk Moses (Patrikeyev), Head of the Public Relations Department of the Karaganda Diocese; Rectors and clergy of the Karaganda Diocese; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Chief of Protocol for the Metropolitan; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy; Deacon Ioann Churkin; Deacon Rustik Yakupov; Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov; Deacon Georgy Tkachenko.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the Archdiocesan Choir of the Karaganda Diocese under the direction of V. Teslenko.

Praying during the Divine Liturgy were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan, Honored Worker of Arts of Russia; Mother Superior Olimpiada (Salopeko), Abbess of the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Karaganda, along with the sisters of the monastery; Archimandrite Peter (Goroshko), spiritual child and disciple of Venerable Sebastian, now spiritual father of the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent; Staff members of the Karaganda Diocesan Administration; Students of Sunday schools.

During the service, the Head of the Metropolitan District offered special prayers for the repose of the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko).

After the Communion verse, Priest Georgy Sidorov addressed the congregation with a homily.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a festal glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ took place, after which the Metropolitan proclaimed the Paschal greeting “CHRIST IS RISEN!” in various languages, both ancient and modern.

The Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful on the feast of the great Kazakhstani saint — Venerable Elder Sebastian — and addressed the congregation with an exhortation.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan offered special congratulations to Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk, who was celebrating his Name Day.

Metropolitan Alexander presented Archbishop Sebastian with a commemorative gift – an icon of the Iveron Mother of God, a blessed prosphora, and a bouquet of flowers.

The clergy of the diocese presented the celebrating archpastor with an icon of the Vladimir Mother of God along with wishes for many blessed years.

Students of the Sunday School of the Trinity-Sebastian Cathedral (director – A.A. Vasilieva) performed Paschal hymns for the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful.

The Metropolitan warmly thanked the performers and distributed sweet gifts.

Metropolitan Alexander sprinkled the numerous faithful with holy water, after which the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful proceeded to the monument to Elder Sebastian located on the cathedral square, where they laid flowers at his monument.

“Today we celebrate the memory of an outstanding ascetic of piety, a confessor of the faith of the 20th century, and one of the last elders of Optina Monastery — Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda. Three great gifts have been left to us by this fervent intercessor: the example of his virtuous life, described in detail by his spiritual children and contemporaries; his spirit-bearing instructions, sermons, and teachings; and his shrine containing his holy relics, which pour forth help and healing to all who approach with faith in prayer to God. On the feast day of this holy elder, let us turn our spiritual gaze to his testament. These words were spoken shortly before his departure into eternal life: ‘I ask you all one thing: live in peace. Peace and love are the most important things. If you have these among yourselves, you will always have joy in your hearts.’ Bowing before his relics and icons, we beseech him to be with us and to lift up his holy prayers before the Throne of the Lord, asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the granting of unashamed faith, firm hope, and unfeigned love. We also beseech Venerable Sebastian to bless our native land of Kazakhstan and to ask the Creator and Giver of all good things to grant peace to the whole world and salvation to our souls.” — From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.