On the Feast of the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Representation of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District in Moscow

July 15, 2026 — the Feast of the Deposition of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia, located at the Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow, which serves as the Representation of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Archpriest Pavel Vishnevsky; Archpriest Alexander Sokolov; Hieromonk Anthony (Drobyazko), rector of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia; Hieromonk Daniel (Makagon); Deacon Anatoly Ledenev; and Deacon Roman Frolov. The liturgical hymns were sung by the parish choir under the direction of Anna Rozhnova.

Praying during the Divine Liturgy were members of the staff of the Representation, benefactors of the Patriarchal Metochion, and parishioners of the church.

The sermon before Holy Communion was delivered by Archpriest Pavel Vishnevsky.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander thanked the clergy, monastics, and faithful for their shared prayer and addressed the congregation with an archpastoral homily.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Metropolitan Alexander presented a high award of the Russian Orthodox Church to Vladimir M. Uzun, General Director of the UZUN Transport Company.

In recognition of his generous support for the construction of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Malovodnoye (Baidibek Bi), Almaty Region, Vladimir Mikhailovich was awarded the Order of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, Third Class.

The Metropolitan congratulated the recipient of the award and wished him good health, strength, and God’s help in his continued labors for the benefit of the Church of Christ.

The hierarch then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.