Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles

July 24, 2026 – the commemoration of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Grand Princess of Rus’, who received the name Helen in Holy Baptism.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Peter and Paul Church in the Southern Capital.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archimandrite Joseph (Yeryomenko), Head of the Diocesan Department for the Canonization of Saints; Archpriest Vladimir Shklyar, rector of St. Peter and Paul Church; Archpriest Kirill Shklyar, dean of St. Peter and Paul Church in Alma-Ata; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; Priest Andrey Shklyar, rector of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat; Priest Georgy Rublinsky, rector of Kazan Cathedral in Alma-Ata; Protodeacon Nikolay Grinkevich; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; and Deacon Georgy Tkachenko.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the parish choir under the direction of I. Korovina.

The sermon before Holy Communion was delivered by Priest Georgy Rublinsky.

The Divine Liturgy concluded with a service of glorification to St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, after which the archpastor thanked the clergy and faithful for their common prayer and delivered a sermon.

The hierarch then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

The Head of the Metropolitan District also warmly congratulated all women who bear the name of St. Olga in Holy Baptism on their name day.

“Today the Holy Orthodox Church solemnly celebrates the memory of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Grand Princess who stands at the very origins of the spiritual history of our land, the forerunner of the Baptism of Rus’, and the first ruler to set a Christian example before her people.

The spiritual feat of the holy Princess Olga is a vivid testimony to how Divine love and the light of the Gospel are able to transform not only the human heart but also the destiny of an entire nation.

Having received Holy Baptism in Constantinople with the name Helen, St. Olga returned to her homeland a completely different person. The flame of faith was kindled in her heart, and she carried it faithfully throughout the rest of her life. Like the dawn that announces the rising of the sun, St. Olga prepared the land of Rus’ to receive the Great Baptism that would later be accomplished by her grandson, St. Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

On this festive day, let us ask the Lord, through the prayers of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, to grant us the same profound faith, wisdom, and spiritual courage.”

From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.