On the Eve of the Theophany of the Lord, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Liturgy and the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

January 18, 2026 – the Eve of the Theophany of the Lord (Epiphany Eve); the commemoration day of the Martyr Joseph Bespalov and 37 Martyrs who suffered for Christ in Talgar (1921), and the Martyr Evgenia Domozhirova who was killed in Almaty (1933).

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the festive service at the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty – the Divine Liturgy and the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: the spiritual father of the Almaty Diocese Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov); the rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; a member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, Igumen Philip (Moiseev); the head of the personal secretariat of the metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); the head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; the head of the metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Hierodeacon Sofony (Mazurenko); Deacon Vitaly Bystrushkin; Deacon Alexander Piven; Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov; Deacon Georgy Tkachenko; Deacon Daniil Pasyuk.

The liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Church Singing O. N. Ovchinnikov, and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of E. Boguslavets.

By the reading of the Epistle and Gospel on the Eve of Theophany, the Church proclaims the Baptist and Forerunner of the Lord John, who bore witness to the eternal and divine greatness of Christ and called to repentance.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Georgy Sidorov, lecturer of Homiletics at the Almaty Theological Seminary.

During the Liturgy, the President of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” V. M. Kapsamun prayed.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander, concelebrating with the clergy, performed the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters.

After the sprinkling of the temple and the faithful with the great Agiasma (Epiphany holy water), the clergy and singers sang the troparion and kontakion of the feast before the icon of the Baptism and the candle, symbolizing the light of Christ’s teaching and the divine enlightenment granted at the Theophany.

At the conclusion of the service, the Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the clergy and the faithful on the Eve of the feast of the Theophany and addressed the congregation with words of instruction.

The Metropolitan congratulated the head of the protocol service, Father Protodeacon Roman Golovin, on his birthday, presented him with a liturgical prosphora, thanked him for his labors, and wished him God’s mercy in his continued service to the Holy Church.

“Today is a special day in the Church calendar, called the Eve of Theophany. It is the threshold of the great feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan for the sake of our salvation. Today is a day of strict fasting and, at the same time, the beginning of spiritual joy – in hymns, troparia, and stichera, the good news of the appearance of the Savior to humanity resounds. As foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned’ (cf. Is. 9:2).

Today we, called to repentance by the Forerunner John, grieve over our sins and ask God for the healing of our infirmities, forgiveness of our mistakes, and the correction of our lives according to the Gospel commandments. And we rejoice in the grace that abundantly filled the world through the coming of Christ. The holy Church calls out: ‘Come to the waters,’ draw the gracious strength ‘from the wells of salvation’ (cf. Is. 55:1; 12:3).

Today, by God’s mercy, we have again become participants in the majestic service – the sanctification of the element of water. Through the incarnation of the Son of God, through the appearance of Christ the Giver of Life, we are granted a special, incomparable mercy of the Heavenly Father. Every Christian can not only perceive the Creator and Maker with mind, heart, and will but truly unite with God, mysteriously partake of the divine power.

Through the feat of the Savior, His condescension to the human race – His Birth, Death, and Resurrection – divine grace has been revealed to us as a great gift from above. It is the living and active power of the Almighty that can free a person from sin, overcome the imperfection of human nature, heal mental and bodily ailments, elevate people to evangelical moral heights, and transform the world.

According to the most ancient tradition, dating back to apostolic times, on the day of Theophany the Great Blessing of Waters is performed. By invoking the Life‑Giving Trinity, reading Holy Scripture and special prayers, immersing the altar cross – the water is sanctified. Without changing its physical nature, it is filled with divine power and becomes great Agiasma, that is, great holiness. This service, exceptional in beauty and inner spiritual content, and the gift we receive – the great Agiasma – lift us from earthly to heavenly, from temporal to eternal, and give us confidence that God, by His grace, is with all of us who believe in Him and that He, by His power, purifies and renews all creation.”

From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.