Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Liturgy at the Moscow Representation of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan

May 13, 2026 – the Leavetaking of Mid-Pentecost; the commemoration day of the Apostle James the Son of Zebedee and of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, Patriarchal Metochion of the city of Moscow – the Representation of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: dean of the parishes of Astana Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev); vice-rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Igumen Agafangel (Gagua); Archpriest Alexander Sokolov; rector of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia Hieromonk Anthony (Drobyazko); clergy of the metochion; Deacon Anatoly Ledenev; Deacon Roman Frolov; and head of the “Svete Tikhiy” Foundation Deacon Daniil Bulychev.

Praying at the Liturgy were: deputy head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation N.V. Parshikova; chairman of the Orthodox society “Skiniya,” church and public figure A.V. Bugaevsky; benefactors of the metochion and parishioners of the church.

The church choir sang under the direction of Anna Rozhnova.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the clergy celebrated the glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, the Apostle James the Son of Zebedee and St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

His Eminence proclaimed “Christ is Risen!” in various ancient and modern languages, after which he sprinkled the faithful with holy water and delivered a sermon.

In recognition of his labors for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church, and also in connection with a significant anniversary of his birth, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Deacon Roman Frolov, cleric of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia, the high distinction of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District – the Order “Enbek Ushin” (“For Labor”). The hierarch wished the award recipient spiritual and bodily strength and God’s mercy in his continued service to the Holy Church.

“Today we commemorate St. Ignatius, Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea region. This hierarch left us his remarkable writings. He wrote about the ascetic life, about various questions of Orthodox Dogmatics, against heresies and schisms, and on other pressing themes. This holy struggler is a person very close to us in time and spirit. Even during his lifetime he prayed for all people and instructed many on the path of Truth, and now, being a saint and praying before the Throne of God, this great hierarch also addresses us through his books, which awaken our conscience and call us to repentance.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.