Service of the Vicars of the Astana Diocese on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost

On August 25, 2024, the 9th Sunday after Pentecost and the post-feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, by the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the vicars of the Astana Diocese conducted Sunday services in the churches of the southern capital.

The Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, led the Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

Serving with the archpastor were: Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Spiritual Father of the Almaty Diocese; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan's Personal Secretariat; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; Deacon Andrei Pleteny; Hierodeacon Sofony (Mazurenko); Deacon Alexander Piven; and Deacon Ioann Zhuchkov.

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

After the Liturgy, Bishop Gennady thanked the clergy and all participants for the communal prayer and addressed those present with words of edification.

Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Liturgy at the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos Church in the Alatau district of Almaty, which serves as the representation of the Taldykorgan Vicariate.

His Grace was assisted by Archimandrite Gavriil (Tutberidze), Protopriest Vladimir Glukhikh, Priest Nikolai Matlashov, and Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

The choir of the Annunciation Church, conducted by A. Averyanova, performed the hymns.

Orthodox residents of the Alatau district and believers from nearby settlements prayed during the Liturgy.

At the end of the service, Bishop Klavdian congratulated the worshippers on the Sunday and delivered a sermon.

Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Karasu district of Almaty.

Assisting the hierarch were: Priest Roman Burdukov, the sacristan of the Holy Cross Church; Hieromonk Levky (Ershov); and Deacon Pavel Kornienko, clerics of the Holy Cross Church.

The hymns of the Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Holy Cross Church of the southern capital, conducted by N. Burdukova.

The archpastor offered prayers for the multiplication of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Bishop Veniamin congratulated the worshippers on the feast of the "little Pascha"—the Sunday—and delivered a word of exhortation.