Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan congratulated Schema-Archimandrite Pakhomiy (Goroshko) on the 55th anniversary of his priestly service

On 7 March 2026, the 55th anniversary of the priestly ordination of the spiritual father of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery of the Karaganda Diocese, Schema-Archimandrite Pakhomiy (Goroshko), was marked. The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, sent a congratulatory message to Father Pakhomiy.

The greeting states in particular:

“Fifty-five years ago you received the grace of the priesthood and became a servant of the Lord’s altar, called to be ‘an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity’ (1 Tim. 4:12). Christ the Chief Shepherd granted you His special mercy: you were vouchsafed to become a spiritual child and disciple of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda – a ‘servant of the Holy Trinity,’ one of the last Optina elders, a confessor of the faith and a heavenly patron of the land of Kazakhstan. Having received from Venerable Sebastian the lessons of firm trust in God and the traditions of true piety, you have become for a great number of Orthodox Christians and people seeking salvation a spiritual father and wise guide, ‘who brings good news of peace, who brings glad tidings of joy, who proclaims salvation’ (Isa. 52:7).

The years that have passed have been filled for you with many labors for the benefit of the Holy Church. You had to carry out your ministry in difficult conditions of administrative pressure; the Lord vouchsafed you to become a witness and participant in the revival of Orthodoxy, and now by your labors, with the assistance of the all-strengthening grace of God, the work of evangelical proclamation continues on the land of Karaganda – in the mining region of Kazakhstan. By your wise word, fervent prayer and the example of your life you kindle in people’s souls the saving fire of Christ’s faith and zealously labor to enlighten monastics and laypeople with the knowledge of the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:6).

On this special day for you, I prayerfully wish you strong health and peace of soul.

Through the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God, the supplication of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, and the prayers of the Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda and Venerable Pachomius the Great, may the All-Merciful Lord grant you His help in the further bearing of your pastoral labors for the good of the Holy Church.”