Sunday Commemorating the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils. Head of the Metropolis celebrated the Liturgy at the Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Astana

On July 27, 2025 – the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils – Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the oldest church in the city of Astana – the Constantine and Helen Cathedral.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the dean of the capital’s parishes Archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev); the spiritual father of the Astana Convent in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost” Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov); cleric of the Alexander Nevsky Church Protopriest Mikhail Zinchenko; the sacristan of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral Protopriest Sergy Kaliyev; cleric of the Church of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov in Astana Hieromonk Silouan (Sinegubov), and Priest Nikolai Koval. The deacon’s rank was headed by Deacon Elias Davydov.

Praying during the service were: the abbess of the Convent in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost” in Astana, Igumenia Sevastiana (Plotnikova), with the sisters of the monastery; staff of the diocesan administration, pilgrims, and parishioners of the church.

The choir of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral, under the direction of A. Karnaukh, sang the liturgical hymns.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Hieromonk Silouan (Sinegubov).

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and laity on the Sunday and on the joyful commemoration of the feats and labors of the Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils, and addressed those gathered with a word of instruction:

“Today, during the Divine Liturgy, we heard the edifying words of the Apostle Paul: ‘We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up’ (Romans 15:1–2). Supporting the weak – those who are spiritually frail or physically afflicted, worn out by life’s circumstances or tormented by sinful passions – is, according to the Apostle, a noble imitation of the sacrificial ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ‘did not please Himself’ (Romans 15:3). A simple example of fulfilling this commandment is given by Saint John Chrysostom: ‘Is someone quick-tempered, or touchy, or has another fault? You – endure it.’ Life in faith presupposes overcoming egoism, the self-enclosure within our own problems. We, Orthodox Christians, are indeed spiritually strong people, as we are strengthened by the holy sacraments, by prayer, and by instruction in the heavenly wisdom of Holy Scripture. Therefore, we must more often turn our attention to the needs of our neighbors, see their sorrows, and assist them in difficult circumstances. ‘Christ constantly radiated love and mercy, and we must constantly sow gentleness, kindness, and compassion around us. Christ raised the dead, and we must exert all efforts to awaken and resurrect the sleeping – and often dead – souls of our loved ones,’ – this is the instruction given to us by the Kazakh ascetic of piety, the ever-memorable Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov). Our high moral duty is to be a support for those who are struggling, to extend a hand of brotherly help to every person – whether believer or unbeliever, righteous or sinful – and to labor for the transformation of the world around us, filling it with truth, mercy, and beauty.” From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.