Day of Victory Commemorated in the Dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District

Karaganda Diocese

On May 9, 2026, by the blessing of Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk, memorial services for the departed and thanksgiving molebens for the granting of Victory were celebrated in the churches of the diocese.

The clergy offered prayers “for our leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, who died from wounds and hunger, who were innocently tortured and killed in captivity and bitter labors, and for all who labored for the sake of Victory.”

On the same day, Priest Peter Babinov, cleric of the Karaganda Diocese, took part in official events at the “Eternal Flame” memorial complex of military glory dedicated to the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Petropavlovsk Diocese

On May 9, Victory Day, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Paschal rite at the Entrance of the Theotokos Church in the village of Saumalkol, Aiyrtau District of North Kazakhstan Region. Following the augmented litany, a thanksgiving prayer to the Lord God for the granting of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was read.

At the conclusion of the service, the ruling hierarch of the Petropavlovsk Diocese led the commemoration of fallen soldiers at the memorial to the defenders of the Fatherland in the village of Saumalkol. The archpastor and clergy laid flowers at the monument to the departed soldiers, after which those gathered sang “Memory Eternal.”

Pavlodar Diocese

On May 9, by the blessing of Archbishop Barnabas of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, thanksgiving molebens to the Lord God for the granting of Victory were served in the churches of the Pavlodar Diocese after the Divine Liturgy. Prayers were also offered “for our leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, who died from wounds and hunger, who were innocently tortured and killed in captivity and bitter labors, and for all who labored for the sake of Victory.”

Clergy of the diocese participated in memorial rallies and flower-laying ceremonies at memorials of Glory in the towns and villages of the Pavlodar Region.

Kokshetau Diocese

On May 9, Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola took part in a memorial event at the Military Glory memorial in the city of Kokshetau dedicated to the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Among those participating in the commemoration were representatives of the regional administration and law enforcement agencies, war veterans and home front workers, city clergy, members of the sisterhood in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God of the Kokshetau Diocese, and numerous townspeople.

Participants in the ceremony laid wreaths and flowers at the Eternal Flame in memory of all fallen defenders of the Fatherland.

Uralsk Diocese

On May 9, by the blessing of Bishop Viannor of Uralsk and Atyrau, rectors and clergy of the city churches honored the memory of soldiers killed on the battlefield during the Great Patriotic War and laid a wreath at the memorial complex in the city of Uralsk.

At the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Uralsk, following the Divine Liturgy, a procession was held to the memorial of fallen soldiers and the mass grave located near the church grounds.

The service was led by Archpriest Vladimir Garasim, dean of the Ural Deanery and rector of the Transfiguration Church, concelebrated by clergy of the parish.

The clergy served a panikhida for the fallen soldiers and then laid flowers at the mass grave.

Kostanay Diocese

On May 9, the feast of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, by the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, temporary administrator of the Kostanay Diocese, a memorial service was celebrated by the clergy of the city at the Chapel of All Saints in Victory Park in Kostanay. Prayers were offered “for leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, who died from wounds and hunger, who were innocently tortured and killed in captivity and bitter labors, and for all who labored for the sake of Victory, and for all who perished in the wartime calamity.” A moleben for the health of surviving veterans was also served. The services were led by Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), secretary of the Kostanay Diocese.

Parishioners of the city churches gathered in prayerful remembrance of the fallen heroes.

At the conclusion of the service, the clergy and faithful processed while singing the Paschal troparion to the memorial “To Those Who Perished During the Great Patriotic War.” The clergy sang “Memory Eternal” for all who labored for the sake of Victory and then laid flowers from the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan at the Eternal Flame.

Aktobe Diocese

On May 9, by the blessing of Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, memorial commemorations for the departed and thanksgiving molebens for the granting of Victory were celebrated in the churches of the diocese. The priests offered prayers “for our leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, who died from wounds and hunger, who were innocently tortured and killed in captivity and bitter labors, and for all who labored for the sake of Victory.”

Clergy of the city of Aktobe took part in a flower-laying ceremony at the memorial obelisk in honor of the people of Aktobe who fell in battle for the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War.