Memorial Day of St John Chrysostom. Metropolitan Alexander Celebrated the Liturgy in the St Nicholas Cathedral of Almaty

26 November 2025 – the memorial day of St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the St Nicholas Cathedral of Almaty.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were the dean of the parishes of Almaty and rector of the St Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov, lecturer of the Minsk Theological Seminary and head of the library of the Minsk Theological Seminary, candidate of theology Archimandrite Nikodim (Generalov), sacristan of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya, cleric of the St Nicholas Cathedral Priest Oleg Nasymov, vice rector for educational work Priest Ioann Livinsky, head of the metropolitan’s personal secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgiy Sidorov, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Hierodeacon Athanasius (Kozel), Deacon Alexiy Kanushin, Deacon Ioann Churkin, Deacon Alexander Voronin, Deacon Daniil Pasyuk.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, an icon of St John Chrysostom with a particle of his holy relics was brought to the cathedral for the prayerful veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the Common Chant Choir under the direction of O. Solomonova.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Ioann Livinsky.

The Liturgy concluded with the glorification of St John Chrysostom, after which Metropolitan Alexander addressed the worshippers with words of instruction.

“Today we prayerfully commemorate the memory of St John Chrysostom, the great teacher of the Church of Christ, defender of the faith, distinguished theologian, radiant preacher, fervent zealot of piety, God-wise archpastor and humble ascetic. All his life, all the great gifts and talents with which the Lord endowed him, he dedicated to the work of the salvation of the people of God.

Christ the Chief Shepherd laid upon him a special cross, appointing St John Archbishop of Constantinople, the principal city of all Byzantium. Being one of the foremost hierarchs of the empire, he refused glory and avoided honors. With love and meekness the saint served his flock, tirelessly celebrated divine services, visited the sick, showed charity to the poor, reproved heretics, preached abundantly, explaining to the faithful the mysteries of Holy Scripture and teaching them to live according to the Gospel.

He rejoiced in the joys of his flock and shared their sorrows. A great multitude of works did St John Chrysostom leave to Orthodox believers as a spiritual inheritance. Even those far from the Church know well one of his outstanding works, the extraordinarily profound ‘Homily on the Resurrection of Christ,’ which is read every time during the celebration of the Paschal Midnight Office.

But the main work of St John Chrysostom, which serves all of us unto salvation, is the Divine Liturgy. The grace-filled service composed by the hierarch, filled by him with the inspired words of prayer, is celebrated today throughout the world wherever the Orthodox Church exists. It is precisely this Liturgy of St John Chrysostom that most often gathers all of us together around the Chalice of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ.

St John teaches us that in Holy Communion not only our true encounter with the Lord takes place, but also our complete partaking of the incarnate Son of God, the Savior of the world. He often preached about the necessity of the participation of the faithful in the Liturgy and in the Communion of the most pure Body and Blood of the Savior. ‘This Table is strength for our soul, firmness for the heart, the foundation of hope, the pledge of salvation, light and life. This Mystery even here turns the earth for you into Heaven,’ says the saint about the Holy Eucharist.

Great was St John Chrysostom in his life — in his labors, his ascetic deeds, his teachings. But also great and glorious was his martyric repose, for he departed to the Lord, as is known, being exiled from his see for his faithfulness to the truth of God. ‘Your life was truly full of sorrows, but your death is honorable, your tomb is glorious, your reward is great!’ we exclaim together with the disciple of the saint, Archbishop Proclus of Constantinople.

Deeply instructive is the last exhortation that the God-wise hierarch gives to all of us in his final words: ‘Glory to God for all things.’ St John often said to his spiritual children that these words for the one who pronounces them in any trouble and in any misfortune become the richest source of consolation and hope. ‘As soon as you say them, every cloud of sadness is immediately scattered.’

Inspired by St John Chrysostom, let us strive to participate more fervently in the Divine Liturgy and more often turn to his immortal works. Let us take to heart his principal counsels — to study the word of God, to persevere in prayer and to perform works of mercy.”

From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.