August 30, 2026 – the 13th Sunday after Pentecost and the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Alma-Ata.
The Head of the Metropolitan District was joined in the celebration by: Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Chrysanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan; Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the churches of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Alma-Ata; Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Father Confessor of the Alma-Ata Diocese; Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Dean of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Department for Public Relations; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Information and Publishing Department; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek), Personal Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Priest Daniil Bobylev, Head of the Correspondence Department; Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Rector of the Kazan Cathedral in Alma-Ata; Priest Ioann Konoplev, Dean of the Church of Sts. Adrian and Natalia; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Vitaly Bystrushkin; Deacon Alexander Piven; Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov; and Deacon Georgy Tkachenko.
Present in prayer at the service were staff members of the Alma-Ata Diocesan Administration, students of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, teachers and pupils of the Sunday schools of the Southern Capital, and parishioners of the principal cathedral of Alma-Ata.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the Choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District under the direction of O.N. Ovchinnikov, Honored Art Worker of Russia, and pupils of the Tsevnitsa Orthodox School of Church Singing under the direction of N. Golovina.
Following the Communion verse, Archpriest Valery Zakharov delivered a sermon.
The Liturgy concluded with the glorification of the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, after which Metropolitan Alexander delivered a sermon.
The Head of the Orthodox Church celebrated a prayer service for the beginning of the new academic year, after which he addressed those gathered with words of guidance and bestowed his archpastoral blessing upon the children and young people.
Video coverage of the event was provided by the television studio of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (Director – V.L. Posadneva) for the Semirechye YouTube channel.
“I congratulate you on this special celebration that unites children and adults, teachers and educators, schoolchildren and university students – Knowledge Day and the beginning of the new academic year.
“School and university years may rightly be called the best period of a person’s life, since this is the time of youth, the time of formation and intensive development of the personality, and the time of acquiring the fundamental knowledge necessary for future professional and creative activity. At the same time, during this bright period of life, a young person must cultivate diligence and determination, learn to overcome laziness and other moral shortcomings. Young men and women face the task of learning to treat their mentors and fellow students with respect and to apply themselves diligently to mastering the subjects they are taught.
“In childhood and youth, through their spiritual and moral choices, habits, actions and words, people shape their relationships with God and with others for decades to come and determine the future course of their entire lives. ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’ (Gal. 6:7), Holy Scripture warns us.
“For centuries, the Orthodox Church has carried out its teaching ministry and blessed the work of education. Every academic year we begin with prayer to God, asking Him to grant assistance to teachers in their instruction and to students in acquiring knowledge.
“On this festive day, I would like to offer teachers, students and schoolchildren this good counsel: in order to achieve success in your endeavors and undertakings, never forget God, and strive with all your heart to fulfill His commandments. The Old Testament prophet and psalmist David says: ‘Depart from evil, and do good’ (Ps. 33:15).
“When one of the ancient ascetics who lived in the fifth century, St. Poemen the Great, was asked what one must do in order to become happy, he replied: ‘One must pray much, work much, and do good to others.’
“I wish teachers, schoolchildren and students good health, strength, help from the Lord, and success in their labors.”
From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.
O. N. Ovchinnikov, choirmaster of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, took part in a patriarchal divine service held at the conclusion of the IV International Congress of Choirmasters and Singers of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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Patronal Feast Day at the Church of the Intercession in Almaty
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