On the Feast of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Epiphany Cathedral of the Kostroma Kremlin

June 14, 2026 – Second Sunday after Pentecost, the Feast of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, visiting the Kostroma Metropolis at the invitation of Metropolitan Ferapont of Kostroma and Nerekhta and Governor S.K. Sitnikov, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Epiphany–Anastasia Cathedral of the reviving Kostroma Kremlin.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Bishop Alexiy of Galich and Makaryev; cathedral clergy and clerics of the Kostroma Diocese.

Praying during the service were: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Cultural Figure of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, and member of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; as well as staff of the Kostroma diocesan administration.

Representatives of the Kostroma city and regional administrations, deputies of the regional and city Dumas, and leaders of public organizations were also present.

The liturgical singing was performed by the episcopal choir of the Kostroma Metropolis under the direction of Honored Cultural Worker of Russia N.V. Baluyeva.

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, a service of glorification to All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land was held.

The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District warmly thanked Bishop Alexiy, the clergy, and faithful for the joy of common prayer at the holy altar of the restored Epiphany Cathedral, congratulated the congregation on the feast of the “Little Pascha” — the Sunday on which the Orthodox Church prayerfully commemorates all Russian saints — and delivered a pastoral homily.

Bishop Alexiy addressed Metropolitan Alexander with words of gratitude and congratulations, emphasizing the metropolitan’s special contribution to the revival of Orthodoxy in the God-preserved land of Kostroma.

In recognition of many years of service to Orthodoxy and on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Protodeacon Sergiy Maltsev the high ecclesiastical distinction of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District — the Order Yntaly Kyzmet Ushin (“For Diligent Service”).

On the same day, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan visited several churches in Kostroma, where he venerated local holy objects.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Alexander said in part:

“Today, on the second Sunday after Pentecost, we honor all the saints who have shone forth in the Russian Orthodox Church. ‘Today the choir of saints who pleased God in our land stands in the Church and invisibly prays to God for us,’ as is sung in the kontakion to God’s saints glorified today. Through their labors and sufferings, through their ascetic feats and greatness of spirit, Orthodoxy was established and strengthened in Rus’ and in the lands that now form the canonical territory of the Russian Church. By their prayerful intercession, the true faith continues to be preserved in human hearts, and through their protection we — their relatives in spirit and in flesh — are able to live with Christ, walk the path of salvation, and keep the Gospel commandments. Frequent обращения to the saints are a natural need of every Christian. And when praying to the saints of our native Russian Orthodox Church, we have even greater boldness, believing that our holy forebears never forget their descendants who celebrate ‘their radiant feast with love.’”