The holy image is a gift to the Kostanay and Rudny Diocese from the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander.

The presented icon is an exact copy, “measure for measure,” of the wonderworking image of the Mother of God revealed in the 13th century in the city of Kostroma. The icon was created by an outstanding contemporary iconographer – Honored Artist of the Russian Federation S. N. Sokolov. The image is adorned with a riza crafted in the Alexander Nevsky Art Workshop in Moscow by the renowned jeweler A. I. Aniskin. The riza precisely reproduces a masterpiece of 19th-century jewelry art – the gold cover adorned with precious stones on the revealed Feodorovskaya Icon in Kostroma, made in 1891 from voluntary donations of the faithful.

The newly created image of the Queen of Heaven transferred to Kostanay was consecrated by the ruling hierarch at the revealed wonderworking Feodorovskaya Icon in Kostroma.

In addition to the precious riza, another adornment of the Feodorovskaya image is a reliquary presented by Metropolitan Alexander, containing a historical shrine – a fragment of the wooden staff that, until the 17th century, was affixed to the lower edge of the wonderworking icon.

While the clergy sang the troparion «By the coming of Thy precious icon, O Virgin Mother of God.», the kiot with the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God was brought beneath the church vaults and placed in the central part of the храм.

Together with the clergy, the Head of the Metropolitan District performed a glorification of the Most Holy Theotokos, marking the beginning of the faithful people’s veneration of the holy image.

The hierarch congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the arrival in the capital of the Kostanay Region of this unique copy of the icon of the Queen of Heaven revered throughout the Orthodox world, and delivered a word of instruction.

«The bright days of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ for the inhabitants of the God-protected land of Kostanay are marked by a special event. Today, a great shrine is presented as a gift to the main church of the diocese – the Constantine and Helen Cathedral of the city of Kostanay – an exact copy, “measure for measure,” of the wonderworking Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since apostolic times, the Christian world has venerated icons of the Mother of God. According to Church tradition, her first image was painted by the holy Evangelist Luke. Our благочестивые ancestors were distinguished by deep and sincere love for the Queen of Heaven, as evidenced by the multitude of images of the Most Holy Theotokos glorified by miracles in the Orthodox Church. Among them is the great shrine, the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, whose centuries-long history is connected with outstanding and glorious historical events. The copy now transferred for reverent keeping and prayerful veneration is skillfully executed in strict observance of iconographic rules and traditions by outstanding iconographers and jewelers. It was consecrated at the revealed Feodorovskaya image of the Most Holy Theotokos with special prayers for the well-being and peace of the land of Kazakhstan. On the riza of the icon there is placed a reliquary containing a shrine – a fragment of the historical staff that until the 17th century was affixed to the lower edge of the wonderworking image. From ancient times, this shrine has been revered by the Orthodox people as a helper in family well-being, in the birth and upbringing of children. Through prayers before this image, healings from severe illnesses, including infertility, take place, as evidenced by real, documented testimonies. May God grant that the presence of the wonderworking Feodorovskaya image of the Queen of Heaven in the Constantine and Helen Cathedral of Kostanay may spiritually strengthen and console all who live in this generous Kazakh land. May this gift become a source of God’s mercy for all who, with faith and love, bow in prayer before the Most Holy Theotokos», – said the ruling hierarch.

After the archpastoral sermon, Protodacon Roman Golovin read aloud the certificate of transfer of the Feodorovskaya image of the Queen of Heaven to the main church of the Kostanay Diocese for reverent keeping and prayerful veneration.

During the singing of the magnification to the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Alexander blessed with the icon the church, the clergy, and the faithful, invoking God’s blessing upon the chief city of the diocese and the entire Kostanay Region.

Many Years were proclaimed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill; to the Head, hierarchs, clergy, and flock of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; to the President of the country, the authorities, the armed forces, and all the people of Kazakhstan.