On the Feast of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, the Head of the Metropolitan District Celebrates the Liturgy at the Church of the Archangel Michael in Pavlodar

August 15, 2026 – the commemoration of the Translation of the Relics of the Apostle, Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Archangel Michael in the city of Pavlodar.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was concelebrated by: Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Archimandrite Joseph (Yeremenko), Head of the Diocesan Department for the Canonization of Saints; Archpriest Igor Popov, Dean of the Ekibastuz Church District and Rector of the Iveron-Seraphim Cathedral in Ekibastuz; Archpriest Konstantin Kutasevich, Sacristan of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Pavlodar; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek), Personal Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; Archpriest Alexy Stepanov, Secretary of the Pavlodar Diocese and Dean of the Pavlodar Church District; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Priest Vladimir Bryukhanov, cleric of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Pavlodar. The diaconal rank was headed by Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service.

An icon of the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ containing a great Gospel relic – a particle of the Wood of the Life-Giving Cross – was brought to the church for the prayerful veneration and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, together with a reliquary containing a portion of the relics of the Holy Archdeacon Stephen and a stone from the place of the martyrdom of the sufferer for Christ.

Praying at the divine service were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation; Nun Seraphima (Bolibok), Superior of the Sts. Peter and Paul Convent in Pavlodar, with the sisters of the monastery; Cossacks, students of Sunday schools, parishioners of the churches of Pavlodar, and pilgrims from nearby settlements.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Annunciation Cathedral under the direction of Elena Yusupzhanova.

Following the Communion verse, Priest Georgy Sidorov read out the address of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan on the beginning of the Dormition Fast.

The Liturgy concluded with a glorification before the Cross of the Lord and the relics of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, after which the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated the faithful on the beginning of the Dormition Fast and delivered a sermon.

Metropolitan Alexander sprinkled those gathered with holy water.

“Holy Scripture and the Tradition of the Orthodox Church have preserved for us precious testimony concerning the life and martyric death of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen. The Holy Apostle of the Seventy, Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was the eldest among the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles themselves, and for this reason he is called the Archdeacon. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Saint Stephen boldly preached the Gospel, confirming the truth of his words with signs and miracles. The success of his preaching was so evident that it aroused against him the hatred of the enemy of the human race – the devil. The spirit of malice darkened the minds of men, and the persecutors of Christ and His Church seized Saint Stephen, dragged him beyond the walls of Jerusalem into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and stoned him. In the distance, on the Mount of Olives, the Most Pure Mother of God stood upon a rock with the Apostle John the Theologian and, beholding Stephen’s martyric death, fervently prayed to Her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might strengthen the martyr in endurance and receive his soul in peace. As a hail of stones fell upon him, Stephen saw the Lord in Heaven looking upon his death. In terrible suffering, covered with blood, the Holy Archdeacon ‘called upon God, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ (Acts 7:59), and, falling to his knees, he cried out his final prayer for his murderers: ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge’ (Acts 7:60).

Before the Holy Archdeacon Stephen, no one had shed his blood in bearing witness to Christ. Yet throughout history he came to have hosts of followers – passion-bearers, confessors, and martyrs. The apostolic word teaches us that the greatest divine gift is not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for Him. Since the time of the Holy Protomartyr Stephen, persecutions have repeatedly been raised against the Church of Christ by the world that lies in wickedness. The Savior Himself spoke of this: ‘If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you’ (John 15:20). The Orthodox Church was subjected to particularly cruel persecution in the twentieth century. Our Kazakhstan land is abundantly watered with the blood of the New Martyrs and Confessors, who are now holy intercessors and advocates in prayer. Today there has come ‘a time to gather stones together’ (Eccl. 3:5). We are witnesses to how, as a sign of repentance for the apostasy of our forefathers, of the reconciliation of earth with Heaven and of man with God, destroyed holy places are being restored here on the land of Kazakhstan and new and beautiful churches of God are being built, where the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered ‘for all and for all,’ and prayer ascends to the Throne of God for the salvation of our souls, for the peace of the whole world, and for our God-protected country. Today there is no persecution for the faith, yet every Christian needs much love and patience in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from the corrupting influence of sins and vices. We draw the grace-filled strength for this spiritual warfare from our spiritual unity with the saints and the righteous, with those who pleased God, and with the martyrs for Christ – both ancient and new.” From a sermon by Metropolitan Alexander.