Metropolitan Alexander Led Celebrations in the “Miners’ Capital” Marking the 60th Anniversary of the Repose of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda

April 19, 2026 – the Second Sunday after Pascha (Antipascha); commemoration of the assurance of the Apostle Thomas; the day of remembrance of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda – the heavenly patron of Kazakhstan.

The celebrations, centered at the Trinity–Sebastian Cathedral, were led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Metropolitan District were: Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk; Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan; Bishop Chrysanf of Shymkent and Turkestan; Dean of the capital’s parishes Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev); Head of the Public Relations Department of the Karaganda Diocese Hieromonk Moses (Patrikeev); Rector of the Almaty church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Eugene Vorobyev; Dean of the Abai Church District Archpriest Vladimir Freygang; Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Diocese Archpriest Alexander Ugolkov; personal secretary of the Head of the Metropolitan District Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek); Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha); Dean of the Constantine–Helen Cathedral Archpriest Sergius Kaliev; Archpriest Alexander Lega; Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy; Deacon Rustik Yakupov; Deacon Georgy Tkachenko; clergy of the churches of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the episcopal choir of the Karaganda Diocese under the direction of V. Teslenko.

Praying at the Liturgy were: Abbess Olympiada (Salopeko) of the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent of Karaganda with the sisters of the monastery; a spiritual child and disciple of Venerable Elder Sebastian – the confessor of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, Schema-Archimandrite Pachomius (Goroshko); staff of the Karaganda Diocesan Administration; and students of Sunday schools.

After the Communion hymn, Priest Georgy Sidorov read aloud the message of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the repose of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and of Elder Sebastian took place, after which the hierarch proclaimed “Christ is Risen!” in various languages – both ancient and modern.

The Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the hierarchs, clergy, and parishioners on the day of remembrance of the great Kazakhstani saint – Venerable Elder Sebastian – and addressed the faithful with a word of edification.

Many Years was proclaimed for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’; for the Head, the episcopate, clergy, and flock of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; for the President, the authorities, the armed forces, and all the people of Kazakhstan.

The Head of the Metropolitan District offered special words of congratulations to the ruling bishop of the Karaganda Diocese, who was celebrating the day of his heavenly patron and the 15th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. In recognition of his zealous archpastoral labors and in connection with the anniversary being celebrated, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Vladyka Sebastian the Order “For Zealous Service.” The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan presented the hierarch with a commemorative panagia, a blessed prosphora, and a bouquet of flowers.

On the occasion of these commemorations, His Eminence was also presented by the clergy of the Karaganda Diocese with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Theodorovskaya,” along with wishes for many and blessed years.

Students of the Sunday school at the Trinity–Sebastian Cathedral (director A.A. Vasilyeva) performed hymns glorifying Holy Pascha for the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful. Metropolitan Alexander warmly thanked the performers and presented them with sweet gifts.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan sprinkled the numerous faithful with holy water, after which the hierarchs, clergy, and believers proceeded to the monument of the Karaganda elder, installed on the cathedral square, where they laid flowers at his monument.

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander, together with Archbishop Sebastian, performed the Paschal glorification in the upper church of the Trinity–Sebastian Cathedral, after which he familiarized himself with the final stage of finishing works and the preparation of the side chapel for consecration.

“Now, in these saving Paschal days, filled with rejoicing in Christ Risen, we are illumined by the light of a special spiritual joy – we celebrate in honor of the heavenly patron of the city of Karaganda and of the whole land of Kazakhstan – a confessor of the faith of the twentieth century and one of the last elders of Optina Hermitage, the Venerable and God-bearing Father Sebastian of Karaganda. The holy elder especially loved the Kazakh land – here he became a great man of prayer, a seer, and a wondrous miracle-worker, and the small church in Karaganda’s Mikhailovka, wondrously established by him during the years of godless persecution of Orthodoxy, became a second Optina for hundreds of thousands of faithful from all regions of the vast country seeking spiritual consolation and support.

Concerning Saint Sebastian, the ascetic of piety Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan said these words: ‘He endured everything with humility, praying to God for the salvation and enlightenment of all. And for his tears and prayers to the Lord, the grace of the Holy Spirit will remain upon Karaganda until the Second Coming.’ Three great gifts were left to us by the Venerable ascetic – the example of his virtuous life, described in detail by his spiritual children and contemporaries, his spirit-filled teachings, sermons, and instructions, and the shrine with his honorable relics, from which help and healing flow to all who with faith turn to God in prayer. On this jubilee day we should turn our spiritual gaze to the testament of the Venerable one: ‘I ask you all one thing: live in peace. Peace and love – this is the most important. If you have this among yourselves, you will always have joy in your soul. It can be attained only through peace, love, and sincere heartfelt prayer.’ The memory of Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda calls us to a special prayerful labor for the peace and prosperity of Kazakhstan and for the well-being of all countries and peoples that belong to the canonical space of Russian Orthodoxy.”

—from the homily of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.