Ministry of the Vicars of the Astana Diocese on the Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 6, 2026. Alma-Ata. On the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the commemoration of the Translation of the Relics of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and All Rus’, the Wonderworker, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Vicars of the Astana Diocese celebrated Sunday services at churches of the Southern Capital.

Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Alma-Ata.

His Grace was joined in the celebration by: Archimandrite Joseph (Yeremenko), Head of the Diocesan Department for the Canonization of Saints; Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Dean of the Cathedral and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Department for Public Relations; Abbot Philip (Moiseev), member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Alexander Piven; Hierodeacon Seraphim (Kanderov), cleric of the Kostanay Diocese; Deacon Rustik Yakupov; Deacon Georgy Tkachenko; Deacon Daniil Pasyuk; and Deacon Alexander Goncharov.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the Choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District under the direction of V. Dudareva and the Choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of E. Boguslavets.

Following the Cherubic Hymn, Bishop Claudian ordained Hierodeacon Seraphim (Kanderov), a cleric of the Church of the Epiphany in Rudny, Kostanay Diocese, to the priesthood.

At the conclusion of the service, the archpastor thanked the clergy and parishioners for their common prayer and addressed those present with words of instruction.

Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord in the Karasu microdistrict of Alma-Ata.

The hierarch was joined in the celebration by Priest Roman Burdukov, Dean of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, and Deacon Pavel Korniyenko.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross under the direction of N. Burdukova.

Present in prayer at the service were Orthodox residents of the Karasu microdistrict and faithful from neighboring communities.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Bishop Benjamin congratulated the worshippers on the feast of the “Little Pascha” – the Lord’s Day – and delivered a sermon.