Metropolitan Alexander Blesses New Baptismal Chapel and Bell Tower in Novonikolskoye

September 29, 2026. North Kazakhstan Region. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Novonikolskoye, Kyzylzhar District.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was welcomed by Archpriest Dimitry Zhulsarin, dean of the Beskol church district and rector of the parish, and G.G. Zenchenko, chief benefactor of the parish.

Upon arriving at St. Nicholas Church, Metropolitan Alexander, together with the accompanying hierarchs and clergy, offered a service of glorification to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and St. Spyridon. He then venerated the church’s sacred objects and met with active members of the parish.

The Head of the Metropolitan District then presided over the blessing of the newly built baptismal chapel and freestanding bell tower of St. Nicholas Church.

Praying at the service were Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo; Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Sergius Pervushin, Secretary of the Petropavlovsk Diocesan Administration; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; clergy of the Alma-Ata Diocese; G.G. Zenchenko, chief benefactor of the parish; parishioners; and Orthodox residents of Novonikolskoye.

After the prescribed prayers, Metropolitan Alexander sprinkled the newly built chapel and bell tower with holy water.

With the blessing of Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo, six bells were cast at the Pyatkov & Co. bell foundry in Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk Region, Russia. The largest bell, named “St. Spyridon,” weighs 2,500 kilograms.

An inscription on the upper part of the great bell reads: “In gratitude to the All-Bountiful God for His mercy and in commemoration of 50 years of agricultural work by the Zenchenko family.”

At the conclusion of the moleben, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan addressed the faithful, speaking about the significance of bell ringing in Orthodox worship.

Accompanied by the rector, Metropolitan Alexander inspected St. Nicholas Church, its grounds and parish buildings. Archpriest Dimitry told the guests about the history of the parish and its life today.

In recognition of his many years of service to the Church and on the occasion of his 50th birthday, Metropolitan Alexander presented Archpriest Dimitry Zhulsarin with the Order of St. Nicholas the Confessor, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Head of the Metropolitan District warmly thanked the rector and the parish benefactor for their work in beautifying the church, gave them his episcopal blessing and wished them God’s help in their service to the Church of Christ.