On the Leave-Taking of Theophany, the 10th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church Dedicated to Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, was Prayerfully Celebrated in Almaty

January 27, 2026 – the leave-taking of the Feast of Theophany and the commemoration day of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the city of Almaty. Within the cathedral grounds stands a wooden church dedicated to Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the completion of its construction and its Great Consecration.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, both vicars of the Astana Diocese; Dean of the Churches of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Candidate of Theology, Mitred Archpriest Valery Zakharov; Rector of the Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyev; Archimandrite Gavriil (Tutberidze); Rector of the Church of St. Paraskeva, Archpriest Ioann Lopatin; Rector of the Church of the Theophany, Archpriest Valery Shavrin; Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Sacristan of the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Head of the Correspondence Department of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Priest Daniil Bobylev; and local clergy. The deacons were led by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

Those gathered for the Liturgy had the opportunity to venerate a special sacred object – a copy of the Cross of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles. According to tradition, this Cross, woven from grapevines, was given to Righteous Nina by the Most Holy Theotokos before sending her forth to preach the Gospel of Christ in Georgia. The copy of this ancient Orthodox relic, which is preserved in the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi, was gifted to Metropolitan Alexander by His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

Also placed on the analogion in the center of the cathedral were an icon of Saint Nina with a piece of her Cross, and an icon of Saint Gabriel (Urgebadze) with a relic of the venerable father.

Among those present at the service were: Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and Choir Director of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan, O. N. Ovchinnikov; President of the public foundation “ELEOS-MEIRIM,” V. M. Kapsamun; members of the Orthodox Medical Society of Kazakhstan; staff of the Saint Luke Medical Center, benefactors, and parishioners.

The choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour sang under the direction of E. Skorova.

The sermon after Communion was delivered by Priest Georgy Sidorov.

Following the Dismissal of the Liturgy, hierarchs, clergy, and the faithful, led by Metropolitan Alexander, processed in a cross procession to the church dedicated to Saint Nina, where the rite of glorification was performed in honor of the Lord’s Theophany and the commemorated saint.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated those gathered on the patronal feast and the 10th anniversary of the Great Consecration of the church.

Addressing those bearing the name of the saint, the archpastor expressed words of heartfelt wishes, invoking good health, strength of soul, and the abundant help of God.

As a gift to the parish community, His Eminence presented an icon of Saint George (Konissky), Archbishop of Mogilev.