On the First Sunday of the Dormition Fast, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrated the Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

August 17, 2025 – the 10th Sunday after Pentecost; the commemoration of the Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Jamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus, and Antoninus.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in the city of Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), spiritual father of the Almaty Diocese; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolis; Priest Andrey Shklyar, Deputy Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral; Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; Priest Ioann Konoplev, Sacristan of the Adriano-Natalievsky Church; and the deacons.

The hymns were performed by the choir of the Metropolis (choirmaster – Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, assistant choirmaster – V. Dudareva) and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral (choirmaster – E. Boguslavets).

The homily after the Communion verse was delivered by Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and faithful on the Sunday feast and the commemoration of the Seven Youths of Ephesus, after which he delivered a sermon.

“The Paschal theme of the final victory of life over death, when ‘this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality’ (1 Cor. 15:54), is mystically revealed to us in the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, shines in the triumph of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and makes the days of the strict Dormition Fast joyful for the hearts of believers.

Today, on the first Sunday of the Dormition Fast, the Gospel passage proclaimed at the Divine Liturgy spoke of the extraordinary power of faith in God, which can heal diseases, cast out demons, ‘move mountains,’ that is, transform the surrounding reality and influence the spiritual world. Taught by the Savior Himself, we must firmly remember that the fulfillment of what we ask, the realization of our desires, and the achievement of our hopes is possible only when our hearts hold a living, sincere faith in the Creator, trust in His mercy, and confidence in His inexpressible love for mankind. The Holy Apostle Paul teaches us this, saying: ‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him’ (Heb. 11:6).

Another important lesson of today’s Gospel reading is the necessity in our spiritual life of fasting combined with prayer, through which passions, malice, and vices are expelled from the human heart. We must not neglect the saving power of these spiritual labors, and they must be united with deep repentance and a fervent desire to forever and completely renounce sinful attachments. Prayerful labor cannot be successful without purification of one’s soul, without repentance and amendment of life. In the words of the great teacher of the Church, St. Gregory the Theologian: ‘As a cloud covers the shining of the sun’s rays, so the sinner, who does not want to acknowledge his sins and renounce them, covers for himself the rays of God’s love and the mercy of the Mother of God.’ Therefore, as we undertake the labor of fasting, let us earnestly ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, the overcoming of weaknesses, and victory over passions. May the central theme of our requests and prayers during the days of the Dormition Fast be the acquisition of a virtuous Christian life, of which the Mother of God herself is the brightest example.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.