Metropolitan Alexander Performs the Rite of the Great Consecration of the Newly Built Church in Honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Village of Malovodnoe

December 10, 2025 – the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God known as “The Sign”.

In the village of Malovodnoe (Baidibek bi) of the Almaty Region, the great consecration of the newly built church dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos took place.

The rite of the great consecration and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, concelebrated by the vicars of the Astana Diocese – Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, and Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan.

Concelebrating with the archpastors were: Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyev, rector of the Almaty church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolis, Candidate of Theology; Archpriest Nikolai Tkachenko, rector of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church; Archpriest Anatoly Boyko, rector of the Alexeyevsky Church in the village of Baiterek; Archpriest Igor Svetlichny, sacristan of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Vladimir Bartashevich, rector of St. Paraskeva’s parish in the city of Talgar; Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, rector of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Church in the settlement of Guldala; Priest Andrey Shklyar, rector of the Cosmas and Damian Church; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; Hieromonk Varsonofy (Larionov), rector of the Archangel Michael Church in the village of Turgene; and clergy of the Almaty Diocese. The deacons’ ranks were led by Patriarchal Archdeacon Constantin Bargan.

Praying at the service were: O. N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, choir director of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Church Singing; staff of the “Eleos–Meirim” Public Foundation headed by President V. M. Kapsamun; benefactors of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church; pilgrims from Almaty; and Orthodox residents of Malovodnoe and nearby settlements.

For veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, the church received an exact copy – “measure for measure” – of the wonderworking Kursk–Root Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”, blessed during the visit of this great Orthodox shrine to Kazakhstan in 2019. The icon was painted by the renowned contemporary iconographer, head of the Gury Nikitin Icon Painting Studio, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation S. N. Sokolov. It is adorned with a riza meticulously replicating the metal covering of the wonderworking original, crafted by the workshop named after St. Alexander Nevsky under the direction of master goldsmith A. I. Aniskin.

The men’s choir of the Almaty Diocese sang under the direction of Deacon Alexander Piven.

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

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a moleben in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos was served – clergy and choir sang the troparion, kontakion and magnification to the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.

Many years was proclaimed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus’; to the Head and episcopate of the Kazakhstan Metropolis; to the President, the civil authorities, the armed forces and all the people of Kazakhstan.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the archpastors, clergy and faithful on this significant event in the spiritual life of the community – the consecration of the new church – and offered heartfelt gratitude to all who, by prayer, sacrifice or personal labor, contributed to the construction of the church dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God. The metropolitan presented the rector, Archpriest Nikolai Tkachenko, with the Certificate of Great Consecration and bestowed upon him the Order of the Holy Confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Almaty.

As a gift to the church, the archpastor presented an icon of the Queen of Heaven “Abbess of Mount Athos” and an image of the Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda.

Those who took part in the construction and adornment of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church and were present at the great consecration received awards of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

After the awards, Metropolitan Alexander addressed those gathered with an archpastoral message:

“Today the Lord has revealed to us the ‘exceeding riches of His grace’ (Eph. 2:7). We have become participants in a spiritually significant event – the consecration of the church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Malovodnoe. One more church has adorned the blessed land of Kazakhstan, and one more quiet harbor has appeared in the stormy sea of life.

It is impossible to overestimate the significance of a church, which the holy fathers and teachers of the Church have called ‘Heaven on earth’, in the life of an Orthodox Christian. Beneath its vaults the most holy Eucharist is celebrated – the bloodless Sacrifice offered ‘for the life of the world’ (Jn. 6:51). Here, by listening to the services and partaking of the saving mysteries, people are spiritually transformed and strengthened in love for God and neighbor; they draw grace–filled strength for the struggle against evil and for growth in virtue; they learn the sublime truth of the Gospel. In the house of God, the human soul, wearied by the vanity of daily cares, finds peace; here the Savior Himself invites us: ‘Come unto Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Mt. 11:28).

I would like to express my gratitude to Archpriest Nikolai Tkachenko and to the president of the “Eleos–Meirim” Foundation V. M. Kapsamun and to all those who participate in the church life of the village and who, showing ‘the work of faith and labor of love’ (1 Thess. 1:2), contribute to the spiritual renewal of their native land.

May the new church, dedicated to the appearance in the world of the Most Holy Theotokos – the Mother of our Savior – become a true adornment of this region and a visible testimony to the power and glory of God and to the motherly Protection of the Queen of Heaven extended over all of us. May it also stand as a monument to the courage of the clergy and laity of the twentieth century who boldly confessed Christ in the face of militant unbelief.

I congratulate the residents of the village on the consecration of the church and wish peace and well–being. Perform works of mercy and love, and strive, according to the apostolic word, to build up ‘the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you, whom you have from God’ (1 Cor. 6:19).”

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander consecrated the newly built parish spiritual and cultural center located on the grounds of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church.