Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Field Church of the Eurasian Orthodox Youth Forum “Sky. Humanity. Steppe”

August 1, 2026 – Feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the field church of the tent camp of the Eurasian Orthodox Youth Forum “Sky. Humanity. Steppe,” located in the village of Koldy, Almaty Region.

The forum has been organized by the Youth Commission of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and the Orthodox Youth Movement of the Almaty Diocese with the support of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation (President – V.M. Kapsamun).

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya, dean of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral of Almaty; Archpriest Kirill Shklyar, dean of Sts. Peter and Paul Church; Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, dean of the Ili Church District; Priest Dimitry Bovkunovich, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Belarusian Orthodox Church; Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Secretary of the Youth Ministry Commission of the Astana and Almaty Dioceses and dean of the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty; clergy from the dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District participating in the youth forum. The deacons were headed by Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service.

For the spiritual strengthening and veneration of the faithful, the field church housed a reliquary containing a portion of the relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, together with relics associated with his ascetic life: a fragment of the stone on which he prayed for one thousand days and nights, as well as portions of his clothing, prayer rope, and vestments.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the Men’s Choir of the Almaty Diocese under the direction of Hegumen Filipp (Moiseyev).

Praying during the Liturgy were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Figure of Kazakhstan and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation; participants of the Orthodox youth forum from the dioceses of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, leaders and members of diocesan and parish youth organizations, those responsible for youth and educational ministry, experts in public, religious, and social affairs, as well as guests from Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Georgy Sidorov.

The participants of the youth forum received the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

The Divine Liturgy concluded with the glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, after which Metropolitan Alexander addressed the delegates of the youth gathering with words of greeting.

Many Years was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Head and hierarchs of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev, the civil authorities, the armed forces, and all the people of Kazakhstan.

On behalf of the clergy and faithful, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen congratulated Metropolitan Alexander on the anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation, also extended special congratulations and good wishes to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, wishing him strength of soul and body and the unfailing help of the Savior in his high episcopal ministry.

The youth forum delegates presented the Metropolitan with a bouquet of flowers and wished him many blessed years of archpastoral service.

In his response, His Eminence thanked Bishop Gennady, V.M. Kapsamun, the clergy, the faithful, and the participants of the youth forum for their kind wishes and delivered a pastoral address.

Following the service, Metropolitan Alexander awarded the Order of Saint Sophronius (Sokolsky), Archbishop of Turkestan and Tashkent, Enlightener of Semirechye, to Priest Dimitry Bovkunovich, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Belarusian Exarchate, and to Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Secretary of the Youth Ministry Commission of the Astana and Almaty Dioceses. The Metropolitan thanked the recipients for their work in organizing the Orthodox youth forum and wished them God’s blessing in their future labors.

His Eminence then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

The service was filmed by the Semirechye Television Studio of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (Director – Honored Cultural Worker V.L. Posadneva), while photographs were taken by A. Shcheglov, a member of the Information Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and the Eleos-Meirim Foundation.

From Metropolitan Alexander’s sermon:

“Saint Seraphim left us many profound yet simple spiritual teachings, all firmly rooted in Holy Scripture and the writings of the Holy Fathers. We draw countless saving lessons from his well-known words: ‘Acquire the spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved.’ The gracious spiritual state of a person filled with the Holy Spirit spreads to many others. Yet we must also remember that sin, once it enters a single heart, gradually infects ever more people. Therefore, if we desire salvation for ourselves and for those close to us, if we wish to uproot sin and vice from society, we must first begin with ourselves—living a virtuous life, striving for holiness, and allowing ourselves to be transformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Seraphim regarded prayer as one of the principal means of acquiring divine grace: ‘Prayer above all else brings the Spirit of God, and it is the easiest virtue for everyone to practice… There is always an opportunity for it—whether one is rich or poor, strong or weak, healthy or sick, righteous or sinful.’

Through both his life and his teachings, Saint Seraphim calls everyone to follow the path shown by Christ. He summons us to struggle against sin and our own shortcomings, standing as a beacon and guiding light for all who seek salvation.”