Metropolitan Alexander Celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Petropavlovsk

April 29, 2026 – the day of commemoration of the martyrs Agapia, Irene, and Chionia.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in the city of Petropavlovsk.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo; rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Archpriest Sergiy Snopkov; secretary of the Petropavlovsk Diocese, Archpriest Sergiy Pervushin; dean of the Bishkul ecclesiastical district, Archpriest Dmitriy Zhulsarin; head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgiy Sidorov; key cleric of the Church of All Saints, Priest Antoniy Shuvakin; rector of the Methodius Church, Priest Mikhail Berezin; head of the prison ministry department of the Petropavlovsk Diocese, Hieromonk Seraphim (Maksimov); rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in the village of Arkhangelskoye, Priest Roman Pudov; Deacon Vladimir Bartol; Deacon Alexiy Aleksandrovich; Deacon Igor Yermolyuk; Hierodeacon Mikhail (Kuznetsov).

The liturgical hymns were performed by the episcopal choir under the direction of choirmaster A.A. Zatai.

Praying at the Liturgy were: President of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” V.M. Kapsamun, benefactor of the Petropavlovsk Diocese E.S. Makhinya, parishioners of the churches of Petropavlovsk, and pilgrims from nearby localities.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Mikhail Berezin.

The Liturgy concluded with the glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, after which the metropolitan proclaimed “Christ is Risen!” in various languages, both ancient and modern.

At the conclusion of the service, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan addressed the faithful with a word of instruction and then sprinkled the worshippers with holy water.