Ministry of the Vicars of the Astana Diocese on the Sunday of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land

June 14, 2026, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the commemoration of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the vicars of the Astana Diocese celebrated divine services in churches of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the hierarch were: Cathedral Dean and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Department for Public Relations Archpriest Alexander Suvorov; member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports Hegumen Filipp (Moiseev); cleric of the Ascension Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Ievlev; the deacons were led by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

The hymns were performed by the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of E. Boguslavets.

Following the Liturgy, Bishop Gennady thanked the faithful for their common prayer and addressed those present with words of instruction.

Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Alatau district of Almaty, the representative church of the Taldykorgan Vicariate.

Concelebrating with the hierarch were: Archpriest Vladimir Glukhikh, Priest Nikolai Matlashov, Hierodeacon Veniamin (Vdovin), and Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

Praying at the service were Orthodox residents of the Alatau district and faithful from neighboring communities.

The choir of the Annunciation Church sang under the direction of A. Averyanova.

At the conclusion of the service, the hierarch congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the Sunday feast and delivered a sermon.

Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint John of Kronstadt in the city of Alatau, which was observing its patronal feast day.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Cathedral Dean of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya; rector of the Church of Righteous John of Kronstadt Archpriest Vadim Alekseev; rector of the Church of Saint Xenia in Konaev Hieromonk Pimen (Tkachenko); and Deacon Pavel Kornienko.

Praying at the service were Orthodox faithful of the city of Alatau, residents of nearby settlements, and pilgrims from Almaty.

The hymns of the Divine Liturgy were sung by the choir of the Church of Saint John of Kronstadt.

The sermon before Communion was delivered by Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a festive procession of the cross took place, after which Bishop Veniamin congratulated the rector, clergy, and parishioners of the church on the occasion of the patronal feast and delivered a homily.