Day of Remembrance and Sorrow Observed in the Dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District

June 22, 2026 marked the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow—the 85th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

Astana and Alma-Ata Diocese

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a memorial service for all those who perished during the war years was celebrated at the Dormition Cathedral in Astana by Priest Sergiy Pinigin, concelebrated by Deacon Maxim Kuznetsov.

At the conclusion of the service, Memory Eternal was proclaimed for “all leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, those who died of wounds and hunger, those innocently tortured and slain in captivity and forced labor, and all who labored for the sake of Victory.”

Following the memorial service, Priest Sergiy Pinigin addressed the faithful, speaking about the importance of preserving the memory of those who suffered during the Great Patriotic War.

At the Ascension Cathedral in Alma-Ata, the Dean of the cathedral and Head of the Public Relations Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, celebrated a memorial service for all those who perished during the war years.

He was concelebrated by Archpriest Alexander Ivliev and Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

Among those praying in the cathedral were representatives of public organizations, military personnel, and parishioners from the churches of the Southern Capital.

Uralsk Diocese

Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau celebrated a special memorial service for those who perished in the Great Patriotic War at Holy Trinity Church of the St. Nicholas Monastery near the village of Derkul, where a military hospital had been located during the war.

With the blessing of the Ruling Bishop of the Uralsk Diocese, the Head of the Diocesan Information Department, Hegumen Dorofey (Dilmanaev), concelebrated by Archpriest Alexander Pushin, celebrated a memorial service at the war memorial complex in the city of Uralsk.

Among those in attendance were: A.V. Grubiy, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Uralsk; staff members of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation; representatives of public organizations; military personnel; and parishioners of the city’s churches.

At the conclusion of the service, the clergy laid flowers at the memorial to the fallen soldiers, after which all those gathered sang Memory Eternal.

Chimkent Diocese

With the blessing of Bishop Chrysanf of Chimkent and Turkestan, memorial services for those who perished during the war years were celebrated in the churches of the Chimkent Diocese. Prayers were offered “for our leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield, those who died of wounds and hunger, those innocently tortured and slain in captivity and forced labor, and all who labored for the sake of Victory.”

Kostanay Diocese

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Temporary Administrator of the Kostanay Diocese, a special memorial service for those who perished during the Great Patriotic War was celebrated after the Divine Liturgy at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Kostanay by the Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese, Hegumen Gennady (Burdyuzha), concelebrated by the cathedral clergy.

On this day, prayers were offered in all churches of the Kostanay and Rudny Dioceses “for the repose of the ever-memorable leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives for the Faith and the Fatherland on the battlefield, those who died of wounds and hunger, those innocently tortured and slain in captivity and forced labor, those missing in action, and all who labored for the sake of Victory.”