On the Feast Day of Apostle Matthias, Metropolitan Alexander Celebrates the Liturgy at the Annunciation Church in Alma-Ata

August 22, 2026 – Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; commemoration of Apostle Matthias and the Saints of Solovki and Valaam.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Alatau microdistrict of Alma-Ata, where the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan is located.

The Head of the Metropolitan District was concelebrated by: the vicars of the Astana Diocese – Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the churches of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Alma-Ata Church of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon of the Mother of God; Archpriest Gennady Kadnikov, Dean of the Uzun-Agash Church District and Rector of the Kazan Church in the village of Uzun-Agash; Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, Rector of St. John the Baptist Church in the settlement of Guldala; Archpriest Anatoly Boiko, Rector of St. Alexy Church in the settlement of Baiterek; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Priest Roman Klyuev, Rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Church in the village of Saimasai (Alexandrovka); Priest Nikolai Matlashov; Priest Kirill Freigang, Acting Dean of the Talgar Church District and Rector of St. Nicholas Church in Talgar; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Hierodeacon Afanasy (Kozel); Deacon Rustik Yakupov; and Deacon Georgy Tkachenko.

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; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation; Orthodox residents of the Alatau microdistrict and faithful from the surrounding settlements.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Annunciation Church under the direction of Ksenia Bocharova.

The sermon following the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Kirill Freigang.

The divine service concluded with the glorification of the Transfiguration of the Lord, after which His Eminence addressed those gathered with a word of instruction.

The Head of the Metropolitan District sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

“Among the many spiritual lessons offered by the fast dedicated to the Mother of God is the need to preserve peace within the family and strengthen love between spouses, children, and parents. We are all troubled by disputes and divisions in society, which at times develop into fratricidal strife, and we all sincerely desire that peaceful skies should always remain above us and our children. Yet it is important to remember that a ‘quiet and peaceable life’ in the place where we live, in our country, and throughout the world begins with peace and tranquility within each individual family.

“During these holy days of the Dormition Fast, let us strive first of all to mend our relationships with our relatives and loved ones, forgive long-standing grievances, overcome indifference, and put away quarrelsomeness, jealousy, and irritation. A strong Christian family is both a little Church and a source of God’s blessings for those around it, as well as a wonderful means of preaching the Gospel. ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35), says the Lord.

“Righteous Archpriest John of Kronstadt taught: ‘If you live in mutual love, you will bring down upon yourselves the grace of God – and God will dwell in you and crown all your endeavors and deeds with blessed success: for where there is love, there is God, and where there is God, there is every good thing.’

“Undoubtedly, cultivating forbearance and love toward our neighbors and acquiring patience and understanding require great effort and serious work upon our mind, emotions, will, character, and habits. The Savior warns us: ‘Without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5). Therefore, every undertaking – and above all, the renewal of our own soul – must be carried out by invoking the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking the intercession of His Most Pure Mother and the prayerful intercession of the saints.”

From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.