On Sunday, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in Astana

July 5, 2026 – the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, the commemoration of the Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan presided over the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in Astana.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District; Archpriest Yevgeny Korolkov, Acting Dean of the Dormition Cathedral; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Personal Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; Hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov), cleric of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Astana; Hieromonk Daniil (Makogon); Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat; Priest Sergiy Dianov, Assistant to the Dean; Priest Viktor Drozhnikov; Priest Andrey Ivashinin; Priest Nikolay Goryachev; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Deacon Ilya Davydov, Deacon Mikhail Chumakov, and Deacon Yaroslav Vokhmentsev.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the Choir of the Dormition Cathedral under the direction of O. Varentsova.

During the Litany for the Departed, special prayers were offered for the repose of Mitred Archpriest Alexander Milovanov. The day marked the fifth anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable pastor.

The sermon before Holy Communion was delivered by Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek).

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Metropolitan District thanked the clergy and faithful for their common prayer and addressed the congregation with a homily.

“In his commentary on today’s Gospel reading, St. John Chrysostom says that it contains a profound lesson for every Christian. From it we see that the power of the enemy can accomplish nothing without God’s permission. We hear how the demons begged the Lord to allow them to enter the herd of swine, and only after receiving His permission were they able to do so. This Gospel account reminds us that, apart from God’s will, the powers of darkness have no authority over a faithful person who strives to live according to conscience and in harmony with the Mother Church. Let us never forget that nothing in our lives happens outside the providence of the Lord. The Creator compels no one; He offers His saving teaching and calls us to follow Him. The ultimate choice always remains ours: whether or not to allow God to enter our souls.”

From the homily of Metropolitan Alexander.