October 25, 2025 – the day of the repose in the Lord of Hieroconfessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Almaty and Kazakhstan. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the blessed falling asleep of the saint and confessor.

The spiritual celebrations took place at St Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty, where the precious relics of the saint repose in the southern chapel. The hierarch is venerated as the heavenly patron of Kazakhstan.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Church were Archbishop Varnafa of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk, Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk, Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen (Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan), Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan (Vicar of the Astana Diocese), Bishop Chrysanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar (Vicar of the Astana Diocese), Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau, Dean of the churches of Almaty and Rector of St Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Astana Church District Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), Rector of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Almaty Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District Doctor of Theology Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Public Relations Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Sacristan of the Dormition Cathedral Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Sacristan of the Nativity Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Gaychenya, Rector of the Church of St Paraskeva Archpriest Ioann Lopatin, Rector of the Theophany Church Archpriest Valery Shavrin, Dean of the Ili Church District Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, Rector of the Church of the Beheading of St John in the village of Guldala Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky), clergy of the Almaty Diocese. The diaconal rank was headed by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

Present at the Liturgy were Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Choir Director of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; students of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary; teachers and students of the Central Sunday School of the southern capital led by Director G.V. Cherepanova; members of the “Union of Cossacks of Semirechye”; and parishioners of the churches of the southern capital.

The guest of the celebration was V.M. Kapsamun, President of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim”.

St Nicholas Cathedral was returned to believers and revived in 1946 through the labors of Metropolitan Nicholas (Mogilevsky). His holy relics rest in the southern chapel. The Liturgy was celebrated on an antimension signed by the ever-memorable archpastor in 1946, after the return and consecration of the cathedral.

Liturgical chants were performed by the cathedral choir under the direction of O. Berekesheva and the plainchant choir under O. Solomonova.

Prayers were offered for the repose of Archpriest Nikifor and Maria Mogilevsky (the saint’s parents), Confessor of the faith Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), Archimandrite Isaac (Vinogradov), Orthodox Christians “tortured and killed in the time of fierce persecutions by godless men, those who perished from hunger, cold, wounds, illnesses and exhausting labor”, newly-departed Hieromonk Seraphim (Petrovsky) and Archdeacon Vasily (Kryukov).

The sermon after the communion verse was delivered by Priest Georgy Rublinsky.

After the dismissal, glorification of St Nicholas was performed before the reliquary containing his holy relics.

At the end of the service, the Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the bishops, clergy and faithful on the day of the repose in the Lord of St Nicholas of Almaty and addressed those present with a homily on the ascetic life, confessorship for the name of Christ, and the apostolic labors of this outstanding 20th-century hierarch.

A polychronion was intoned for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Head and bishops of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, the President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and for the authorities, military and peoples of Kazakhstan and Russia.

His Eminence sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

The festive service was filmed by the Orthodox television studio “Semirechye” (Director – Honored Cultural Worker V. Posadneva, cameraman A. Schmidt) and photographed by A. Shcheglov.

All participants received commemorative icons of St Nicholas (Mogilevsky), Metropolitan of Almaty and Kazakhstan.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and all Orthodox Christians were congratulated on the feast by Hero of the Russian Federation, test cosmonaut S.N. Ryzhikov, who sent a message from Earth orbit while serving as commander of the International Space Station.