On the Feast of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Exaltation of the Cross Church in Almaty

May 21, 2025 - the feast day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy according to the Paschal rite at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Karasu neighborhood of Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District were: Bishop Veniamin of Talgar - Vicar of the Astana Diocese; protopriest Valery Zakharov - Dean of the Parishes of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; protopriest Alexander Zyryanov - Dean of the Ili Church District; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha) - Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky) - Head of the Metropolitan’s Private Secretariat; Priest Roman Burdukov - Sacristan of the Exaltation of the Cross Church; Priest Georgy Sidorov - Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Metropolitan District; Priest Georgy Rublinsky - Sacristan of the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Protodeacon Roman Golovin - Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; and Deacon Alexander Piven.

For prayerful veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, a reliquary containing a fragment of the Stone of the Lord’s Tomb was brought to the church with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander.

The choir of the Exaltation of the Cross Church performed the liturgical hymns.

The service was attended by parishioners and residents of nearby neighborhoods.

The homily after the Communion hymn was delivered by Priest Georgy Rublinsky.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, glorification was offered to the Radiant Resurrection of Christ and to the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. Metropolitan Alexander then proclaimed the Paschal greeting “Christ is Risen!” in various languages.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated Bishop Veniamin, the clergy, and the faithful on the feast of the Apostle of Love, and thanked all for the shared joy of prayer at the holy altar.