On the Fifth Anniversary of the Repose of Archbishop Elefthery (Kozorez), the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Celebrated a Memorial Lity for the Ever-Memorable Hierarch

June 4, 2026 marked the fifth anniversary of the repose in the Lord of Archbishop Elefthery (Kozorez).

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated a memorial lity for the ever-memorable hierarch at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia at the Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow – the Representation of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Praying during the service were: 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; Hegumen Agafangel (Gagua), Vice-Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor; Hieromonk Antony (Drobyazko), dean of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia; clergy of the metochion and staff members of the representation.

The Head of the Metropolitan District addressed those present with remarks in which he gratefully recalled the labors of the ever-memorable Vladyka.

“For more than thirty years, the departed hierarch bore the cross of apostolic service to the Church of Christ, lovingly and zealously carrying out various labors, ‘to make known the mystery of the Gospel’ (Eph. 6:19), showing active concern for the growth in the faith of Christ among the flock entrusted to his care.

He became both a witness and an active participant in the revival and development of church life on the blessed land of Kazakhstan following the collapse of the icy chains of atheism. In those distant years, the newly consecrated hierarch devoted all his talents and strength, energy and knowledge, to the building up of church life in Southern and Northern Kazakhstan and in the central regions of the country.

Vladyka restored desecrated holy sites, opened new parishes, initiated the development of charitable, educational, and youth ministries, and maintained dialogue with representatives of state authorities and leaders of traditional confessions. Through his labors, he prepared these regions for the establishment of new dioceses of the Metropolitan District: Kostanay, Petropavlovsk, Kokshetau, and Karaganda.

As the Apostle says, Archbishop Elefthery always strove to be ‘an example to the faithful in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity’ (1 Tim. 4:12). In our memory, the departed hierarch will remain a humble, compassionate, and kind man, striving to support all who turned to him for help and consolation.”

From the address of Metropolitan Alexander in memory of Archbishop Elefthery (Kozorez).