Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen Presides Over the Patronal Feast of the St. John the Theologian Church in Almaty

May 21, 2025. On the feast day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Kazakhstan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John the Theologian in Almaty, which was observing its patronal feast.

The church serves as the place of worship for the parish school established by the Department of Religious Education of the Southern Capital.

His Grace was concelebrated by: Archpriest Evgeny Bobylev, Chairman of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Metropolis; Hieromonk Averky (Belov), Rector of the Kazan Icon Church in the village of Koktal; Priest Vladimir Shishlov, Rector of the Dimitriev Church in Baiserke; clergy of the St. John the Theologian Church – Hieromonk Gennady (Solovyov), Priest Alexey Murayev, and Priest Daniil Bobylev; Hierodeacon Athanasy (Kozel); and Deacon Ioann Atyrkhanov.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of the parish school of St. John the Theologian Church.

In attendance at the service were: teachers and students of the school, parents of the pupils, and parishioners.

Following the Prayer Behind the Ambo, a festal glorification was offered to the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, in recognition of their efforts in the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation, His Grace awarded Certificates of Appreciation from the Metropolis to teachers of the St. John the Theologian School: I.A. Belitskaya, L.M. Raspopina, M.G. Kukhol, A.N. Voyakina, and I.V. Kushnirenko.

Bishop Gennady then congratulated the parishioners and students on the occasion of the feast, and extended name day greetings to those celebrating their patron saint, addressing all those present with words of spiritual exhortation.