The Leave-taking of the Feast of Holy Pascha. Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Representation of the Metropolis in Moscow

28 May 2025 – the leave-taking of the Feast of Holy Pascha.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Paschal rite at the church dedicated to the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, located at the Patriarchal Metochion in the city of Moscow — the Representation of the Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the sacristan of the church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, Hieromonk Antony (Drobyazko), and the clergy of the metochion.

The choir of the church sang under the direction of Anna Rozhnova.

The service concluded with a procession of the cross and the singing of the praises of the radiant Resurrection of Christ, after which Metropolitan Alexander proclaimed “Christ is Risen!” in various languages — both ancient and modern.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Head of the Metropolis congratulated the clergy, benefactors, staff of the representation, and parishioners on the leave-taking of Holy Pascha and delivered a homily:

“On the path of the Christian struggle, difficulties and sorrows are inevitable, but let us recall the bold and encouraging words of the Apostle Paul: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Phil. 4:13).

The grace of the Lord’s Pascha is an inexhaustible source of salvation for humanity and for the whole world, for all times, for every generation.

The Resurrection of Christ has equal power and significance both for His contemporaries and for us — we who glorify Him twenty centuries later.

From the Risen Lord comes the gracious help given in the Sacraments of the Church, through which we become ‘alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom. 6:11), and in our weakness, the power of God is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9).

Whatever obstacles may arise on this path, the Savior who rose from the tomb is always with us — with love He strengthens and supports His faithful children.”

From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.