On the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Head of the Metropolitan District led the All-Night Vigil at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

On the evening of September 20, 2024, on the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan officiated the All-Night Vigil at the Ascension Cathedral in the city of Almaty.

During the service at the main church of the Southern capital, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was concelebrated by Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), spiritual advisor of the Almaty diocese; Protopriest Alexander Suvorov, Dean of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Metropolitan District's Department for Public Relations; Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District; and the cathedral clergy.

The hymns were performed by the Metropolitan District Choir (conducted by Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, with choirmaster V. Dudareva) and the Ascension Cathedral Choir (conducted by N. Zubrevich). During the Great Vespers, in accordance with the Church's Typikon, a litia (fervent prayer) was performed, with the blessing of bread, wine, wheat, and oil.

At Matins, following the reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Alexander delivered a sermon to the faithful, in which he spoke about the spiritual meaning and significance of the celebrated event for Orthodox Christians.

During the singing of the Canon of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the faithful were anointed with holy oil.

On the very day of the feast, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Akzhar district of Almaty. The service will begin at 8:30 AM.