Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Ancient Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma

August 8, 2026 – Saturday of the 10th Week after Pentecost and the commemoration of the Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates, Priests of Nicomedia.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, who is visiting the holy sites of the Northern Thebaid at the invitation of Metropolitan Ferapont of Kostroma and Nerekhta and Governor of the Kostroma Region S.K. Sitnikov, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the principal church of the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery. The monastery is regarded as one of Russia’s spiritual, historical, and cultural treasures. During a visit to the restored monastery in 2005, President V.V. Putin left the following commemorative inscription: “The Ipatiev Monastery holds a special place in the history of the Fatherland and Orthodoxy. The revival of Russia will also be linked with its restoration.”

Concelebrating with the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Bishop Alexy of Galich and Makariev; Hegumen Peter (Yeryshalov), Abbot of the Ipatiev Monastery; rectors of churches in Kostroma; and members of the monastic brotherhood in holy orders. The deacons were led by Protodeacon Mikhail Spelnik, Honored Artist of Russia.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the monastery choir under the direction of Nikolai Maltsev.

Praying in the cathedral were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Figure of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and member of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing; the brethren of the monastery; staff of the Kostroma Diocesan Administration; parishioners of Kostroma churches; and pilgrims.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District addressed Bishop Alexy, the abbot, clergy, monastics, and lay faithful with words of greeting. He warmly thanked everyone for the joy of praying together in the ancient Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Ipatiev Monastery and delivered a sermon.

Metropolitan Alexander then offered prayers before the sacred relics preserved in the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Among the holy objects preserved at the Ipatiev Monastery are: a reliquary containing a portion of the Robe of the Lord, a gift from His Holiness Patriarch Filaret and Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov; the wonderworking Tikhvin-Ipatiev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, traditionally believed to have been painted by St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, and brought to Kostroma in 1613 by the delegation of the Zemsky Sobor that informed the young boyar Mikhail Romanov of his election to the Russian throne; a portion of the relics of Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra; a portion of the head of Blessed Simon of Yuryevets; and a stone from the execution room of the Ipatiev House.