The visit of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan to the Kostanay diocese has begun

27 March 2026. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan arrived on an archpastoral visit to the Kostanay diocese of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

Accompanying the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on the trip are: personal secretary of the Head of the Metropolitan District Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek); Head of the metropolitan’s secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky.

At the airport, the hierarch was met by Secretary of the Kostanay diocese Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha) and Head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the akimat of the Kostanay region B.S. Bukeev.

During a conversation with Burkut Serikovich, which took place upon the arrival of the Head of the Metropolitan District, the hierarch spoke about the life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the spiritual celebrations in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God that took place on that day.

For prayerful veneration and spiritual support of the faithful, the Metropolitan brought to the Kostanay diocese a reliquary containing the relics of Venerable Alexy, the Man of God.

On 28 March, Saturday of the Akathist, the hierarch, concelebrating with the diocesan clergy, will preside at the Liturgy in the St John the Theologian Cathedral of Rudny (beginning at 9:00).

On 29 March, the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, His Eminence will celebrate the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Constantine and Helen Cathedral of the city of Kostanay (beginning at 9:00).

On 30 March, the commemoration day of Venerable Alexy, the Man of God, the Metropolitan will preside at the Lenten Liturgy at St Nicholas Church of the city of Kostanay (beginning at 9:00).

The program of the archpastoral visit includes: working meetings on issues of diocesan activity; communication with the clergy; meetings with representatives of regional authorities and public organizations.