Metropolitan Alexander Consecrates Bells for the Oldest Church of the Southern Capital

May 4, 2026. Almaty. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Upon his arrival, His Eminence performed the rite of consecration of bells for the bell tower of the oldest church in the Southern Capital.

The bells were acquired with the support of the “Eleos-Meirim” public foundation (president – V.M. Kapsamun).

Praying during the rite were: head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov; rector of the Kazan Church Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Hieromonk Isaac (Istelyuev); head of the Metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin.

Also present at the spiritually significant event was the Secretary of the Metropolitan District, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov.

The hymns were performed by the choir of the Kazan Cathedral under the direction of L.P. Yeliseyeva.

Before the beginning of the moleben, the archpastor addressed the faithful with a homily in which he reminded everyone of the significance of bell ringing in Orthodox worship.

After the appointed prayers were completed, the hierarch sprinkled the bells with holy water. Many Years was proclaimed for the benefactors of the church who donated funds for the creation of the bells. The Head of the Metropolitan District blessed the participants in the service with the altar cross.

Following the consecration, the bells were raised and installed on the restored bell tower of the Kazan Church.

The set consists of several bells cast with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan in the city of Tutayev (Yaroslavl Region, Russia) at Andrey Dyachkov’s bell foundry. The largest bell weighs 434 kilograms. Along with the bells, craftsmen will install an “electronic bell-ringer” system.

After the consecration, the Head of the Metropolitan District venerated the cathedral’s holy objects, including the revered 17th-century Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, gifted to the parish by the confessor of the faith and ascetic of piety of the twentieth century Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), as well as an exact copy, “measure and likeness,” of the Vatican copy of the wonderworking Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, consecrated in the city of Kazan before the original icon.

At the conclusion of the visit, Metropolitan Alexander thanked Priest Georgy Rublinsky and, through him, all those participating in the restoration of the oldest church of the Southern Capital, and wished everyone God’s help in their labors for the good of the Holy Church.