On the Feast of the Baptism of Rus’, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo prayerfully celebrated the day of his heavenly patron

July 28, 2025, on the commemoration day of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Grand Prince of Rus’, and the Feast of the Baptism of Rus’, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Petropavlovsk.

The ruling hierarch of the Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo Diocese received monastic tonsure with the name in honor of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Baptizer of Rus’. On this day, Archbishop Vladimir marks his name day.

His Eminence was concelebrated by: the secretary of the diocesan administration, Protopriest Sergy Pervushin; the rector of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Petropavlovsk, Priest Mikhail Berezin; the sacristan of the Church of All Saints of the Northern Capital, Priest Antony Shuvakin; the head of the diocesan department for prison ministry, Hieromonk Seraphim (Maksimov); clergy of the diocese who came to congratulate the archpastor on his name day; Deacon Vladimir Bartol and Deacon Alexey Alexandrovich.

Liturgical chants were performed by the episcopal choir under the direction of choir director A.A. Zatay.

After the reading of the Gospel, during the augmented litany, petitions were offered for the unity of the Church of Christ, and the prayer “For the granting of pastors to the Petropavlovsk Diocese” was read.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, before the icon of the Baptizer of Rus’, after which Many Years was proclaimed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the Head of the Kazakh Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the archpastor of the Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Vladimir, the flock of the diocese, the Kazakh Fatherland, the President, the authorities, the people of Kazakhstan, and all Orthodox Christians.

At the conclusion of the moleben, the archpastor congratulated everyone on the Feast of the Baptism of Rus’ and the commemoration of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and addressed the faithful with a word.

The clergy and parishioners, in turn, congratulated Archbishop Vladimir on his name day and the tenth anniversary of his episcopal ministry.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, in a phone conversation, warmly congratulated Vladyka Vladimir on the Feast of the Baptism of Rus’ and the day of his heavenly patron, wishing him health, strength, and the abundant mercy of God.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, on the day of the Baptism of Rus’, at noon – 12:00 local time – the bell ringing “Glory to Thee, O God!” was performed for ten minutes at the Ascension Cathedral in Petropavlovsk, as in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church.