Head of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan Inspected the Restoration Works at the Iveron–Petropavlovsk Convent in the Village of Oktyabrskoye

October 12, 2025. Kostanay Region.

As part of his archpastoral visit to the Kostanay Diocese, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the Iveron–Petropavlovsk Convent, currently under restoration, in the village of Oktyabrskoye.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was accompanied by Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese.

The Metropolitan was welcomed by Hieromonk Methodius (Chulkov), the sisters of the convent led by Abbess Nika (Otroshchenko), parishioners and pilgrims.

Upon arrival, the archpastor together with the clergy visited the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and chanted praises before the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. He then spoke with the abbess and the sisters of the convent. Metropolitan Alexander warmly congratulated Abbess Nika on the anniversary of her elevation to the rank of abbess and presented her with the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” as a blessing and a remembrance.

As a gift to the convent, the Head of the Metropolitan District presented a special relic – an icon of Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna with a particle of her tomb, which is kept in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene Equal-to-the-Apostles in Gethsemane, in the Holy Land. At the beginning of the 20th century, Saint Elizabeth donated, free of charge, a plot of land to the Iveron Convent of Kostanay, where a metochion and a church were established. Abbess Anna (Borodina) personally traveled to St. Petersburg to resolve this matter and met with Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. The present-day Iveron–Petropavlovsk Convent is located on this very plot, which was transferred to the convent in 1913.

“The sacrificial service of the holy martyr Elizabeth to the poor, the sick and orphans, her sincere love for God and the Orthodox Church are capable even today of awakening the souls of many of our contemporaries from sinful oblivion. The examples of those filled with fervent love for God nourish our hearts with this Christian virtue. ‘Draw near to the righteous – and through them you will draw near to God,’ says St. Isaac the Syrian. The lives of the saints show us how to fulfill the commandments of the Lord. A person, bowing before a holy relic, expects a miracle. But the most important event that must take place in each of us as we raise our sincere and humble prayer to the holy martyr Elizabeth is the miracle of the inner transformation – the enlightenment of the soul by the grace of the Holy Spirit,” – said, in particular, Metropolitan Alexander as he presented the icon of the saint to the convent.

After the service, His Eminence reviewed the ongoing restoration work at the convent complex. Mother Abbess briefed the archpastor on the large-scale repair works carried out in the church and the buildings over the summer period – the installation of a heating system, replacement of the roof, and interior renovation of residential and utility areas. Metropolitan Alexander, accompanied by Abbess Nika, inspected the territory and the monastic facilities.

The Head of the Metropolitan District gave a positive assessment of the work done and blessed the continuation of the efforts to revive the Iveron–Petropavlovsk Convent. The restoration works are being carried out with the support of benefactors and voluntary donations from the faithful.