On July 28, 2025, in Astana, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the monastic burial site at the city cemetery, where he served a memorial lity at the grave of the ever-memorable Abbess Rafaela (Vasylenko) and of the reposed sisters of the monastery in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking of the Lost.”
Praying together with the Head of the Metropolis were: Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District; Abbess Sevastiana (Plotnikova), the current head of the monastery dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking of the Lost,” along with the sisters of the convent; and staff of the Diocesan Administration.
Following the communal prayer, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander laid flowers at the commemorative grave crosses.
At the city cemetery, Metropolitan Alexander, accompanied by Archimandrite Sergiy, also visited the burial place of the Honored Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yuriy Timofeyevich Novgorodov, who led the Lutheran community of Kazakhstan from 2005 to 2024. At the grave of the reposed religious leader, His Eminence spoke with his son and successor in ministry – Lutheran Bishop Rostislav Yuryevich Novgorodov.
Abbess Rafaela (Vasylenko) departed to the Lord on February 4, 2024, in the 89th year of her life. She was buried in the monastic necropolis located within the city cemetery.
“Abbess Rafaela lived a long life filled with labors for the benefit of her native Orthodoxy and departed to the Lord on a special feast, when the Holy Church glorifies the assembly of martyrs for the faith in Christ. The Lord granted her the blessing of receiving saving spiritual instruction from pastors and monastics who, during times of hardship, endured the crucible of persecution without betraying the Gospel truth.
In the distant year of 1978, from the hands of the ever-memorable confessor of the faith, Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin), the future abbess received monastic tonsure. In those difficult years for Orthodox life, this was a bold and sacrificial act. Clothed in the ‘angelic habit,’ Mother Rafaela began to labor with even greater zeal in her beloved Constantine and Helen Cathedral, humbly and meekly fulfilling various church obediences.
She took part in the construction of the monastic church in honor of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky and the building of the sisterhood’s residence, organized repair and restoration works in the Constantine and Helen Cathedral, and prepared the necessary documents for the registration of the monastic community.
The reposed abbess gratefully offered her strength, health, and gifts for the establishment of monastic life in the Tselinograd region.
At the monastery, Abbess Rafaela succeeded in creating an atmosphere of Christian love and spiritual peace. Much was done by this faithful laborer to preserve monastic traditions in Kazakhstan, enrich spiritual heritage, and nurture the moral education of the younger generation. Whatever obedience the Lord called her to, she always fulfilled it diligently, with her characteristic zeal, heartfelt simplicity, and sincerity.
We often conversed with Mother Rafaela, discussing monastic life. During these talks, she willingly shared her memories of Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin) and other ascetics of faith and piety, speaking of the sorrowful life of clergy and believers in the era of militant atheism.” – From the words of Metropolitan Alexander in memory of Abbess Rafaela.
Yuriy Timofeyevich Novgorodov departed this life on March 22, 2025, at the age of 69. “We all knew him as a deeply faithful, talented, and wise man, distinguished by extraordinary diligence. He was a remarkable organizer of parish life and a vivid preacher of the Gospel truths. The reposed Archbishop succeeded in establishing friendly ties with Orthodox and Catholic hierarchs and worked actively to strengthen inter-Christian and interfaith cooperation. Through the tireless efforts of Archbishop Yuriy, the Lutheran communities in Kazakhstan underwent consistent strengthening and development. May God grant that all the good and beneficial things accomplished during his two decades of leadership be preserved and multiplied.
What united and brought us closer together with Archbishop Yuriy was our joint concern for the preservation of moral ideals, interfaith peace, and interethnic harmony on Kazakhstani soil. For his significant contribution to the development of interreligious dialogue in the Republic, the reposed spiritual leader of Kazakhstan’s Lutherans was awarded one of the highest honors of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan – the Order ‘For Labors’ (Enbek Ushin).” – From the words of Metropolitan Alexander in memory of Yuriy T. Novgorodov.
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