July 12, 2026 – the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.
Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, who is making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Eastern Siberia at the invitation of Metropolitan Maximilian of Irkutsk and Angarsk, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Sign in Irkutsk.
The cathedral houses one of the greatest shrines of Siberia—the incorrupt relics of St. Innocent, the First Bishop of Irkutsk.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Metropolitan Maximilian of Irkutsk and Angarsk, head of the Irkutsk Metropolitanate; clergy of the Irkutsk and Sayan dioceses; the Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; and the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov.
Praying during the service were: the Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Cultural Figure of Kazakhstan and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation O.N. Ovchinnikov, together with members of the Almaty Diocesan Administration accompanying Metropolitan Alexander on his pilgrimage; and the sisters of the Convent of the Sign in Irkutsk.
The Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region, A.V. Vedernikov, attended the celebration as an honored guest.
The liturgical hymns were sung by the Choir of the Irkutsk Diocese under the direction of Trofim Popodko.
The Divine Liturgy concluded with the glorification of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, after which Metropolitan Maximilian warmly welcomed the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. In his remarks, the Siberian hierarch recalled Metropolitan Alexander’s role, while serving as Bishop of Kostroma and Galich, in the rediscovery of the honorable relics of St. Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, in a museum repository in Yaroslavl that had been established during the era of militant atheism in the Church of St. Nicholas Nadein. At that time, Bishop Alexander had been searching for the relics of St. Gennady of Kostroma and Lyubimograd, and his research helped establish the authenticity of St. Innocent’s relics and initiate the process of their return to the Church.
Metropolitan Maximilian presented the Kazakh hierarch with an icon of St. Innocent of Irkutsk containing a particle of the saint’s holy relics.
Metropolitan Alexander delivered a homily on the ministry of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul and warmly thanked Metropolitan Maximilian for their shared prayer and for the opportunity to venerate the relics of St. Innocent, the First Bishop of Irkutsk, once again after thirty-six years.
In recognition of his efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the Irkutsk Metropolitanate, and on the occasion of the forthcoming 55th birthday of Metropolitan Maximilian, Metropolitan Alexander presented the head of the Irkutsk Metropolitanate with the Order of the Hieromartyr Pimen, Bishop of Verny and Semirechye, together with the insignia of episcopal dignity—a cross and a panagia.
In recognition of his contribution to developing cooperation between the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region, Metropolitan Alexander also awarded the Order “Enbek Üşin” (“For Labor”) to the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly, Alexander Viktorovich Vedernikov.
Accepting the award, Alexander Viktorovich remarked:
“May this be regarded not as a reward for my modest labors, but as a sign of your love, inspiring further work to strengthen the bonds between the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan, united not only by faith but also by interparliamentary cooperation, friendship, and working relations between our Legislative Assembly and the regional maslikhats of Kazakhstan. I hope for your guidance and your blessing as we determine the future directions of our cooperation, for friendship between nations is the foundation of strong and enduring interstate relations, strengthening our countries and contributing to the well-being of their peoples.”
In remembrance of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander presented the Cathedral of the Sign with two icons of the Saints of Kazakhstan containing particles of their holy relics: St. Nicholas, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata, and St. Sebastian the Confessor of Karaganda. As a blessing for their monastic labors, he also presented the sisters of the monastery with an icon of the Holy Prophet Elijah.
Before the relics of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, Metropolitan Alexander offered fervent prayers for the bishops, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Metropolitan District, and for peace and prosperity in Kazakhstan.
Photos courtesy of the Press Service of the Irkutsk Diocese.
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