August 3, 2026 – Feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of the Holy Right-Believing Princess Anna of Kashin and commemoration of the Holy Prophet Ezekiel.
Before the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District consecrated the newly constructed iconostasis of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church. The iconostasis was crafted by artisans from Volgodonsk and produced according to a design by Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, and V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation.
Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of the Mother of God Church in the village of Malovodnoye (Baidibek Bi), Almaty Region.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, auxiliary bishops of the Astana Diocese; Archimandrite Joseph (Yeremenko), Head of the Diocesan Commission for the Canonization of Saints; Archpriest Nikolai Tkachenko, rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church; Archpriest Vladimir Bartashevich, rector of St. Paraskeva Parish in Talgar; Hegumen Nazary (Markov), abbot of the St. Silouan Monastery in Issyk; Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, rector of the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Guldala; Hegumen Onisim (Tulnikov); 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; Hieromonk Varsonofy (Larionov), rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Turgen; clergy of the Almaty Diocese. The deacons were headed by Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service.
Praying during the service 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; benefactors of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church; pilgrims from Almaty; and Orthodox faithful from the village of Malovodnoye and neighboring communities.
During the reading of the Hours, Metropolitan Alexander performed the cheirothesia of seminary graduate and Reader Alexander Goncharov as a subdeacon.
The liturgical hymns were sung by the Diocesan Choir under the direction of Deacon Alexander Piven.
Following the Eucharistic Canon, Metropolitan Alexander ordained Reader Alexander Goncharov to the holy diaconate.
The sermon after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Kirill Freygang.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Alexander addressed the faithful with a pastoral homily.
The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Archpriest Nikolai Tkachenko, Priest Georgy Sidorov, and V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Charitable Foundation, for their efforts in creating the new iconostasis, noting that its completion marked a significant milestone in the beautification of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church.
His Eminence then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.
In his address, Metropolitan Alexander said in part:
“Let us always remember the importance of the church in the life of every Orthodox Christian. Here, by participating in the divine services and receiving the saving Mysteries of the Church, we are spiritually transformed and strengthened in our love for God and our neighbor, drawing the grace-filled strength needed for our earthly journey. The righteous Archpriest John of Kronstadt loved to repeat: ‘The church is heaven on earth.’
I would also like to recall the profound words of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: ‘Whoever builds or restores churches enters history—not only human history. The names of such people are inscribed in a special way in the Book of Life.’
May God grant that the continuing renewal of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God may always serve the spiritual benefit and salvation of all who come here with faith and hope, seeking prayer and consolation.”
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