On the Feast of the "Solemn Resurrection," Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Liturgy in the Almaty church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow."

On September 26, 2024, the Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the commemoration of the Dedication (Consecration) of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem (the Feast of "Solemn Resurrection"), Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: the Dean of the Churches of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Protopriest Valery Zakharov; the Rector of the Church of Joy of All Who Sorrow, Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyev; the Rector of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Protopriest Georgy Chistyakov; the Dean of the Ili Church District, Protopriest Alexander Zyryanov; the Head of the Metropolitan's Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; the Head of the Correspondence Department of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, Priest Daniil Bobylev; the Keyholder of the Kazan Cathedral, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich; the Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon Ioann Churkin; and Deacon Andrey Ivashinin.

The hymns were performed by the church choir under the direction of O. Solomonova.

Praying during the service were: the Secretary of the Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and member of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Development of Russian Church Singing, O.N. Ovchinnikov; employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, benefactors, and parishioners of the Church of Joy of All Who Sorrow.

The sermon after the Communion hymn was delivered by Priest Georgy Rublinsky.

The Liturgy concluded with a glorification of the Feast of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ—clergy and the choir sang the Paschal stichera, after which the Head of the Metropolitan District exchanged the Paschal greeting, "Christ is Risen," with the clergy and the faithful in various languages. According to ancient tradition, on the day of the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the services are conducted with Paschal elements.

The archpastor addressed the faithful with a word of edification:

“Today, the Church of Christ prayerfully commemorates the event of the consecration, or as it is referred to in Church Slavonic, the dedication, of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem, which took place in 335. This majestic cathedral, built by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great, is known throughout the world as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to church tradition, the services for the Feast of the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ are conducted in the Paschal manner. From the life-giving Tomb of the Lord, the light of the Resurrection of the Savior shone forth upon the whole universe, and from the Holy City of Jerusalem, the good news of the victory of Life over death spread to all lands and peoples. In all times, each Christian on their life's journey, in difficulties and trials, in sorrows and challenging circumstances, places their hope in Christ, Who ‘rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living’ (Rom. 14:9). Today’s feast reminds us of the spiritual renewal to which the Lord calls us. The Gospel miracle of Christ’s victory over death is a call to every person to begin a new life – to rise together with the Risen Savior, through faith in the power of God (cf. Col. 2:12).”

From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.