Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at St. John the Theologian Church in Taldykorgan on the Sunday Commemorating the Holy Prophet Elijah

August 2, 2026 – Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Taldykorgan.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District were: Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, auxiliary bishops of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Archpriest Georgy Didichin; Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Priest Alexander Vavoulidi, cleric of the Church of the Archangel Gabriel in Taldykorgan; Priest Alexander Matlashov; Priest Vitaly Panteleyev; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy; Deacon Rustik Yakupov; and Deacon Georgy Tkachenko.

For the prayerful veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, a reliquary containing a portion of the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought to the church.

Among those praying during the Liturgy were O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Figure of Kazakhstan and Honored Artist of Russia; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation; parishioners, students of the parish Sunday school, and Orthodox faithful from Taldykorgan.

Guests of honor included D.R. Yesdauletov, Deputy Akim of the Zhetysu Region, and S.A. Zhanabay, Head of the Zhetysu Regional Department for Religious Affairs.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of St. John the Theologian Church under the direction of Y.S. Lazukina.

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

More than 200 faithful received the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Following the Liturgy, a service of glorification in honor of the Holy Prophet Elijah was celebrated, after which Metropolitan Alexander performed the traditional blessing of the first fruits of the new harvest.

During the singing of the troparion and magnification to the Prophet Elijah, His Eminence sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

The customary Many Years was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’; the Head and bishops of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the civil authorities, the armed forces, and all the people of Kazakhstan.

On August 2, Metropolitan Alexander marked the 43rd anniversary of his priestly ordination. On this day in 1983, the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah, the ever-memorable Archbishop Chrysanth (Chepil)—later Metropolitan of Vyatka and Slobodskoy—ordained Deacon Alexander Mogilev, then serving as his secretary, to the holy priesthood at Holy Trinity Church in the village of Volkovo, Kirov Region.

On behalf of the clergy and faithful, Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan congratulated the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on this memorable anniversary.

In his response, Metropolitan Alexander warmly thanked the hierarchs, clergy, and all those present for their prayers and good wishes, asking everyone to continue praying that God would grant him strength and grace in his archpastoral ministry.

In the course of his homily, the Metropolitan said:

“The prophetic ministry of the Holy Prophet Elijah was entirely marked by a fervent zeal for God—this is the defining characteristic of his life. In Holy Scripture we hear the words of the Psalmist David: ‘Zeal for Your house has consumed me’ (Psalm 69:9 LXX). Elijah was literally consumed by this fire of faith, burning with zeal for the glory of God.

When the Lord asked him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ he replied: ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, because the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword’ (1 Kings 19:9–10). Elijah could not remain indifferent as Israel abandoned the true God to worship the lifeless idol Baal. He grieved deeply that there was no one left to proclaim the word of the Lord, for the prophets of the living God had been slain, while the false prophets of Baal spread pagan superstition.

Elijah’s soul was tormented by the dishonor shown to the Creator, by the desolation of His sanctuary. He did not wish to live if the name of the Lord was no longer glorified and His will was no longer being fulfilled on earth.

Through his zeal for God’s glory, the Prophet teaches us always to remember our own calling—to be true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ and faithful doers of His holy will. We must train ourselves to observe the commandments of God faithfully and without compromise. We should cultivate such a disposition of heart that life—both our own and that of our loved ones—apart from God becomes simply unthinkable.”

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander met with D.R. Yesdauletov, Deputy Akim of the Zhetysu Region, at the spiritual and cultural center of St. John the Theologian Church.

Representing the Orthodox Church at the meeting were Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; O.N. Ovchinnikov; V.M. Kapsamun; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky); Priest Georgy Sidorov; and Protodeacon Roman Golovin. Representing the regional administration was S.A. Zhanabay, Head of the Zhetysu Regional Department for Religious Affairs.

After exchanging greetings, the Deputy Akim thanked Metropolitan Alexander for his visit and expressed appreciation for His Eminence’s pastoral concern for the spiritual life of the region.

Mr. Yesdauletov briefed the Metropolitan on the life of the region and its social and economic development, noting that the Zhetysu Region—one of Kazakhstan’s youngest administrative regions—was established by decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 8, 2022. It was emphasized that the continued political and socio-economic development of both Kazakhstan as a whole and its individual regions depends upon the preservation of peace, good-neighborly relations, and interreligious and interethnic harmony.

The discussion also addressed cooperation between the regional administration and the Taldykorgan Vicariate in promoting the moral and spiritual well-being of the region and preserving its historical and cultural heritage.

The meeting concluded in a warm and cordial atmosphere, with Metropolitan Alexander and Mr. Yesdauletov exchanging wishes for good health and continued success in their respective labors.