Alma-Ata Welcomes the Incorrupt Relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous

October 2, 2026. The incorrupt relics of St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, arrived in Alma-Ata, the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the kind consent of Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, the shrine has been visiting the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District since September 21. During this time, more than 96,000 people have venerated the relics of the Wonderworker of Trimythous – Orthodox residents of Karaganda, Uralsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Astana, Petropavlovsk and Kostanay, as well as faithful from nearby communities.

The relics of St. Spyridon are being accompanied on their pilgrimage by representatives of the Metropolis of Corfu headed by Protopresbyters Evangelos Koutras and Thomas Kostamonitis.

From the international airport of the Southern Capital, the shrine was taken to the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent, where it was welcomed by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Joining Vladyka Metropolitan in welcoming the wonderworking relics were the vicars of the Astana Diocese – Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan; and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, dean of the churches of Alma-Ata; ordained heads of departments and commissions of the Metropolitan District; and rectors and clergy of churches in Alma-Ata.

Numerous faithful gathered to venerate the great Orthodox shrine.

As bells rang and the troparion and glorification to St. Spyridon were sung, the reliquary containing the relics was carried into St. Sophia Cathedral of the convent and placed in the center of the church. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan then celebrated a moleben together with the vicar bishops and clergy of the Alma-Ata Diocese.

Praying at the service were Oleg N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), superior of the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent in Alma-Ata, together with the sisters of the monastery; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation; staff of the Alma-Ata Diocesan Administration; representatives of the Cossack community; students of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary; and benefactors of the diocese.

The hymns were performed by the clergy choir of the Alma-Ata Diocese under the direction of Deacon Alexander Piven.

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those gathered on the great and significant occasion – the arrival of the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous in the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan.

Throughout the evening, molebens were celebrated continuously before the shrine at St. Sophia Cathedral.

Information support was provided by the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency.

The arrival of St. Spyridon’s relics in the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan was covered by national and city television channels, journalists from print and online media, and prominent Alma-Ata bloggers.

Security and order at St. Sophia Cathedral and on the convent grounds were maintained by Cossacks of the Union of Semirechye Cossacks.

The relics of St. Spyridon will remain in Alma-Ata until the evening of October 6.

The shrine will be open for veneration daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.