The Transfiguration of the Lord. The Head of the Metropolitan District Celebrated the Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in the Southern Capital

19 August 2024 – the Great Twelve Feasts of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in the city of Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Head of the Metropolitan District were: the dean of the Almaty churches, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Protopriest Valery Zakharov; the spiritual father of the Almaty Diocese, Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov); Acting Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, head of the Information Department of the Metropolitan District, Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov; Protopriest Dmitry Sidorov; head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Priest Vitaly Ryngach; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Vitaly Bystrushkin; Deacon Alexander Piven; and Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov.

In attendance at the service were the head of the public foundation "Apostle Foundation," G.G. Sosnovsky; the head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, M.S. Simakova; the head of the educational projects department of Rossotrudnichestvo, T.V. Zubkova; employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; benefactors of the diocese; and numerous parishioners.

The hymns were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District (conducted by Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, with choirmaster V. Dudareva) and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral (conducted by N. Zubrevich).

The post-communion sermon was delivered by Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov.

 At the conclusion of the Liturgy, according to the Church's regulations, the blessing of the new harvest of grapes and other fruits that had ripened by this time was performed.

The clergy and choir performed the troparion, kontakion, and magnification of the feast; the archpastor read the prayers for the blessing and sprinkled the newly ripened fruits and the faithful with holy water.

The Metropolitan congratulated the clergy and laity on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and addressed the gathered with a sermon.

 The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov on the anniversary of his priestly ordination, presented him with holy prosphora, thanked him for his labors, and wished him strength of body and soul and God's mercy in his continued service to the Holy Church.

The representatives of the Union of Cossacks of Semirechye, led by Ataman V.S. Shikhotov, a member of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, actively participated in ensuring order and security.

 The video recording of the metropolitan service was carried out by the "Semirechye" television studio of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (director - Honored Cultural Worker V.L. Posadneva, operator A. Schmidt); photographic documentation was handled by A. Shcheglov, a staff member of the information department.

"Each of the Great Twelve Feasts dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ or His Most Pure Mother reveals a new page in our spiritual life. During the deep and heartfelt festive services, we experience a real encounter with God, and the renewal of human nature takes place. Guided by the words of Holy Scripture and inspired by the liturgical texts, which shine with the refined gold of the wisdom of the Holy Fathers, the Christian is strengthened in trials and receives the strength to perform good deeds.
The Transfiguration of the Lord, which illuminated the hearts and minds of the apostles, also calls us to moral transformation and spiritual renewal. The manifestation of Divine glory on Mount Tabor reminds all people of the imperishable glory of the coming eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where "God will be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28) and "the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43). On this bright day of the Transfiguration, we are called to transform the world around us. How? Through our participation in the lives of others.
We must share the grace and spiritual joy that we received today during the Liturgy with our family and loved ones, offer it to the people we interact with, meet, or work alongside, and show active love and compassion to everyone in need.
May the light of the Lord's Transfiguration strengthen and inspire us to do good deeds, give us courage and strength amidst the stormy waves of life's sea to maintain composure and calm, resist temptations and trials, and walk the Gospel path with firm hope in the eternal salvation that God grants us."
From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.