The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Ordains Senior Students of the Almaty Theological Seminary as Readers

11 November 2025, the commemoration day of the Venerable Martyr Anastasia the Roman, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Matrona Church of the Iveron–Seraphim Convent of Almaty – the house church of the Almaty Theological Seminary.

Before the beginning of the Divine Service, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan performed the rite of ordination as readers for the senior students of the theological school: Gleb Bogdanov, Andrey Donskoy, Rustik Gappasov and Dimitry Yadrushkin.

At the conclusion of the rite, the Head of the Metropolis addressed the newly ordained readers with words of admonition:

“You are the future pastors, and it depends on each of you what our Church will be like in time. To Saint John Chrysostom belong the majestic, profound, and powerful words which each of us must know, and which pastors must carry in their hearts: ‘A priest must be an adornment of the Church, a sure support for his own, and an unbreachable wall for strangers.’

To become a worthy pastor it is not enough to master theological terminology or memorize the list of events of Church history. The ‘auditorium number one’ in theological schools is the church itself. Anyone who wishes to receive the sacred rank must make prayer, standing before God, participation in the sacraments of Confession and Communion an inseparable part of his life. ‘A theologian is one who prays much,’ said the holy fathers. Learned theory alone is insufficient for a clergyman, and here we may recall the words of Saint Gregory the Theologian, who warns: ‘Before teaching others, it is important to learn yourself; before enlightening others, it is important to enlighten yourself; before healing others’ infirmities, you must first become healthy yourself.’”

Reader is the first order of the Orthodox clergy, the lowest degree of church ministry. The ordination as reader is performed by a bishop through cheirothesia – a sacred act carried out by episcopal blessing and the laying-on of hands. Reading in church has always been an integral part of the worship of the Church of God. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself sanctified reading in the synagogue when “He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). In the early centuries of the Christian Church, all believers could read in the temple. Later this ministry was assigned to those especially skilled in reading – the readers.

The title of reader in the ancient Church was held in great respect; it was granted as a reward for particular worthiness and steadfast confession of the Christian faith. Many eminent figures and Fathers of the Church – Saints Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom – began their ecclesiastical service in the office of reader.