Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen Prayerfully Marked the Feast Day of His Heavenly Patron

February 5, 2026 – the feast day of Venerable Gennady of Kostroma and Lyubimograd, and the celebration of the Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Administrator of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Vladimir in the city of Almaty.

His Grace was concelebrated by: the Dean of the churches of Almaty, Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Candidate of Theology, Mitred Archpriest Valery Zakharov; the Key-bearer of the Church of St. Vladimir, Hieromonk Sergius (Vnukovsky); Priest Roman Kravchenko; Rector of the Church of St. John the Theologian in the village of Mynbaeva, Priest Valery Belyasnikov; Hierodeacon Athanasius (Kozel); Deacon Vitaly Bystrushkin; Deacon John Churkin; Deacon Alexander Piven; Deacon Daniil Pasyuk.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Church of St. Vladimir.

Praying at the Liturgy were: the principal ktetor of the parish S. V. Kiselev, and residents of the Baganashil microdistrict.

After the Eucharistic Canon, the hierarch performed the ordination to the diaconate of Makariy Belitsky, a referent of the Almaty Diocesan Administration.

At the conclusion of the divine service, a doxology was offered to Venerable Gennady of Kostroma and Lyubimograd, the Wonderworker, and to the Synaxis of the Saints who shone forth in the land of Kostroma.

On behalf of the concelebrating clergy and parishioners, Archpriest Valery Zakharov congratulated Bishop Gennady on his name day, wishing him strength of soul and body and the gracious help of the Lord in his service to the Holy Church.

The Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District warmly thanked those gathered for their good wishes and prayerful support, after which he delivered a sermon.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, congratulated Bishop Gennady by telephone on the day of remembrance of his heavenly patron and wished him good health and God’s mercy.