Celebrations in Honor of the Martyr Agathia of Palermo – Heavenly Protectress from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters – Took Place in Almaty

17 February 2026 – Afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord; commemoration day of the Martyr Agathia of Palermo and Sicily.

The Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iversky-Seraphim Convent in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Archbishop Barnabas of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, Archbishop Amfilokhii of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk, Archbishop Varsonofy of Kokshetau and Akmola, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulayevo, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Administrator of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Diocese of Astana, Bishop Khrisanf of Shymkent and Turkestan, Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the parishes of the Southern capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyev, Rector of the Almaty church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archimandrite Joseph (Eremenko); Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District; Archpriest Ioann Lopatin, Rector of the Paraskeva Church and the Alexander Nevsky Church; Archpriest Valery Shavrin, Rector of the Epiphany Church; Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Dean of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Public Relations Department of the Metropolitan District; Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, Dean of the Ili Church District; Archpriest Kirill Shklyar, Dean of St. Peter and Paul Church; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; rectors of churches and clergy of the Almaty Diocese; clergy accompanying the visiting hierarchs. The deacons were led by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

The Iversky-Seraphim Convent in Almaty houses a reliquary containing a particle of the relics of the Holy Martyr Agathia of Palermo. On 13 October 2014, by the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the shrine was presented to the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan by the International Charitable Christian Foundation “Triumph of the Heart” in response to the petition of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The Martyr Agathia of Palermo is venerated as having special grace to protect those who invoke her holy name in prayer from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires and other catastrophes and natural disasters.

The hymns were sung by the choir of St. Sophia Cathedral under the direction of O. Usoltseva.

Praying at the service were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan, Honored Worker of the Arts of Russia; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) of the Iversky-Seraphim Convent with the sisters of the monastery; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the public foundation “ELEOS-MEIRIM”; staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; benefactors of the diocese; members of the teaching staff and students of the seminary; pilgrims and parishioners.

After the augmented litany, a prayer was offered for the protection of the Southern capital and all Kazakhstan from natural disasters.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Archpriest Kirill Shklyar.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a festal glorification of the Meeting of the Lord and of the Martyr Agathia of Palermo was performed before the icon of the saint and the reliquary containing a particle of her honorable relics.

Many Years was proclaimed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; to the Head, hierarchs, clergy and flock of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan; to the President, the authorities, the armed forces and all the people of Kazakhstan.

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander warmly thanked the hierarchs, clergy, monastics and all participants in the celebration for their common prayer, congratulated those gathered on the feast in honor of the Martyr Agathia of Palermo, and delivered a sermon.

Throughout the day, prayerful veneration before the reliquary with the relics of the saint continued at St. Sophia Cathedral.

The Divine Liturgy was broadcast live by specialists of the “Eleos-Meirim” Foundation. The television studio of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan “Semirechye” (Director and Chief Producer – Honored Cultural Worker V. Posadneva; Chief Cameraman – A. Schmidt) prepared a festive video report.