Head of the Metropolitan District Presides over the Patronal Feast of the Oldest Church in Astana

June 3, 2026 – the commemoration of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and his mother, Empress Helen.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral dedicated to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen in the city of Astana.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archbishop Barsanophius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District; Archpriest Sergiy Kaliyev, dean of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Korolkov, Acting Dean of the Dormition Cathedral; Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov), spiritual father of the Convent dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God Recovery of the Lost; Hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov), cleric of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Astana; Priest Sergiy Dianov, assistant dean; Priest Vladislav Kovalenko, rector of St. Nicholas Church in the village of Akkaiyk, Akmola Region; Priest Maxim Madzhitov; Deacon Ilya Davydov; and Deacon Ilya Salyakhov.

Praying during the Divine Liturgy were: Abbess Sevastiana (Plotnikova), superior of the Convent dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God Recovery of the Lost, together with the sisters of the monastery; O.N. Ovchinnikov, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing; staff members of the diocesan administration; pilgrims; and parishioners of the church.

The hymns were sung by the choir of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral under the direction of N. Mazurina.

The sermon following the Communion verse was delivered by Hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov).

Following the Prayer Behind the Ambo, a procession of the Cross took place, at the conclusion of which, while Many Years was sung, Vladyka Metropolitan blessed the faithful with the Cross and sprinkled them with holy water.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated the hierarchs, clergy, Mother Abbess, and parishioners on the joy of the patronal feast and addressed those gathered with a sermon.

“While glorifying the memory of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and his mother, Empress Helen, we recall the time when the destiny of all European and world civilization was decided. We glorify people who, possessing the highest earthly authority, bowed their knees and laid down their crowns before the King of Heaven.

Saint Constantine placed his trust in God and then used all his authority to put an end to the shedding of Christian blood, to convene an Ecumenical Council, and to uphold the purity of the Orthodox faith. Beside him always stood his pious mother – Saint Empress Helen. Her greatest service to the Church was the discovery of the Life-Giving Wood of the Cross of the Lord in Jerusalem.

The Lord crowned her labors with success – the Cross of Christ was raised above the world, becoming a sign of salvation for all peoples.”

From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.