The Head of the Mitropolitan District Led the Patronal Feast of the Oldest Church in Astana

On June 3, 2025 – the commemoration day of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and his mother Queen Elena; the celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the oldest church in the city of Astana – the Konstantino-Eleninsky Cathedral, which was marking its patronal feast.

His Eminence was concelebrated by: archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev), dean of the capital’s parishes; hieromonk Modest (Drozdov), spiritual father of the Astana convent in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Vzyiskaniye pogibshikh”; hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), sacristan of the Uspensky Cathedral; protopriest Sergy Kaliyev, sacristan of the Konstantino-Eleninsky Cathedral; clergy of the churches of the capital deanery; the deacon’s rank was led by deacon Ilya Davydov.

Praying at the service were: abbess of the convent in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Vzyiskaniye pogibshikh” hegumeness Sevastiana (Plotnikova) with the sisters of the community; staff of the diocesan administration, pilgrims, and parishioners of the church.

The choir of the Konstantino-Eleninsky Cathedral under the direction of N.V. Mazurina sang during the service.

The homily after the Communion verse was delivered by hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek).

After the post-Communion prayer, a procession of the cross was held, at the end of which, to the singing of the Mnogaya leta, Metropolitan Alexander blessed the faithful with the cross and sprinkled them with holy water.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated the clergy, mother hegumeness, and the parishioners on the joy of the patronal feast and addressed the gathered with a sermon.