The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan is Congratulated on His Name Day by the Faculty, Staff, and Students of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary

To His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Permanent Member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan your Eminence, Most Reverend Master!  

On this day, as we celebrate the feast of the saints especially revered by our people – the Righteous Great Prince Alexander Nevsky and the seer of the Holy Trinity, Venerable Alexander of Svir – you prayerfully commemorate your name day.

Rejoicing with you on this day, we, your spiritual children, offer sincere prayers to the Creator and Giver of all blessings for you, our archpastor and father. This year marks 35 years of your episcopal ministry. In your diverse labors for the good of our native Orthodoxy and the glory of the Holy Church, you constantly strive to do everything in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Col. 3:17).

For nearly 15 years, by the will of the Creator, you have borne the cross of archpastorship in Kazakhstan, overseeing the comprehensive establishment of church life on this ancient land so that the faith of the flock may grow and the love of each one toward one another may increase (2 Thess. 1:3). You always show special care for spiritual education and enlightenment.

Among the instructions that you give to the authorities, teachers, and students, there is a wonderful saying of Venerable Pimen the Great, directed to everyone who desires to be happy: "One must pray much, work hard, and do good to people." These wise words have become the motto of your life. May God grant us, under your episcopal omophorion, to embrace this sacred command and always be guided by it.

We wish you, dear Vladyka, God's grace and blessed success in your apostolic ministry for the benefit of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, under the prayerful protection of the Theotokos, the righteous Prince Alexander Nevsky, Venerable Alexander of Svir, and the assembly of the new martyrs and confessors who shone forth on the land of Kazakhstan. May the light of your faith, working through love (Gal. 5:6), shine brightly for all people. Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, δέσποτα! 

Asking for your episcopal prayers and blessing, we, your obedient servants: Acting Rector, Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, the administration, faculty, and students of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary.