The Arrival of a Parish Shrine – the Icon of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon – Was Celebrated in the Village of Kargaly. Bishop Klavdian Presided over the Festivities at St Vladimir’s Church

December 14, 2025. Village of Kargaly, Almaty Region.

Festive celebrations dedicated to the reception of a newly acquired parish shrine – the icon of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon – took place at the church dedicated to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir.

By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Divine Liturgy at St Vladimir’s Church was presided over by Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese.

His Grace was concelebrated by: Priest Alexander Matlashov, key-bearer of the Cathedral of St John the Theologian in Taldykorgan and acting rector of St Vladimir’s Church in the village of Kargaly; Hieromonk Vladimir (Mishchenko), rector of the Kazan Church in the city of Sarkand; Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

Before the beginning of the Liturgy, during the chanting of the magnification hymn to St Panteleimon the Healer, a procession was held around the church with the newly acquired parish shrine – the icon of the Great Martyr. For prayerful veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, a reliquary containing a particle of the saint’s holy relics was also brought to the church.

Praying at the service were: benefactors of the parish Vladimir Petrovich and Evgeny Petrovich Yeremeyev, residents of the village of Kargaly and nearby settlements.

The choir of St Vladimir’s Church sang under the direction of V.B. Butakova.

After the prayer behind the ambo, a festal glorification of the Great Martyr Panteleimon was performed before the reliquary containing a particle of the holy healer’s relics.

The archpastor congratulated the clergy and faithful on the acquisition of the parish shrine and then addressed those present with words of edification.

After the conclusion of the divine service, those gathered were presented with a concert prepared by the teachers and pupils of the parish Sunday school.

Honored guests of the event included: Akim of the Cherkassk Rural District M.N. Aitzhanov; staff of the Department for Religious Affairs of the Zhetysu Region headed by D.M. Moldabayeva; representatives of public organizations of the region.

The celebration concluded with a common meal.