Metropolitan Alexander Elevated Abbess Sebastiana (Plotnikova), the Abbess of the Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Lost" in Astana, to the Rank of Igumeniya

On August 27, 2024, in Astana, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated July 25, 2024 (Journal No. 98, Paragraph 1b), Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan elevated Abbess Sebastiana (Plotnikova), the Abbess of the Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Lost," to the rank of Igumeniya.

The ceremony of elevation took place at the Alexander Nevsky Church of the monastery and was attended by Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District; Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov), spiritual father of the monastery; clerics of the capital deanery; the nuns of the monastery; pilgrims, and parishioners. 

After the prayers were read, the archpastor placed a pectoral cross on the abbess of the monastery and handed her the abbatial staff. 

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan addressed Mother Sebastiana with a word of guidance:

"With a special blessing from God, the sisters of the monastery in honor of the icon of the Queen of Heaven 'Recovery of the Lost' are now entrusted to your abbatial care. This monastery is unique, as it was founded not in times of church prosperity, but during an era of persecution against Holy Orthodoxy. Its founder, the ever-memorable Archimandrite Cyril (Borodin), is revered by many believers in Kazakhstan and abroad as a confessor of the faith and an ascetic of piety. He received the salvific lessons of life in Christ from the wise elder-hierarch Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) and Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda, and passed them on to the nuns of the monastery. Among Father Cyril's spiritual disciples was your mentor, the late Abbess Raphael (Vasilenko). Remember that in monastic life, it is important to maintain the continuity of the traditions of diligent prayer and humble labor, performed for the glory of God. Bearing in mind the high responsibility of the abbatial service, draw strength from reading the word of God and the teachings of the holy fathers, constant prayer, sincere repentance, and above all, from partaking in the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Strive to participate as often as possible with the sisters of the monastery in the Divine Liturgy, which unites us with God and with each other. With diligence, fervent faith, and unwavering hope, turn to the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, and your heavenly patron, Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda, so that you may follow without stumbling along with the sisters of the monastery entrusted to your care, on the difficult but salvific path leading to the eternal Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)," said Metropolitan Alexander in particular.

Mother Igumeniya thanked the Head of the Metropolitan District for his words of guidance and requested the archpastoral prayers for the bestowal of God's strengthening grace in her abbatial service.

On the same day, the participants of the event visited the burial place of the ever-memorable Abbess Raphael (Vasilenko), the late abbess of the Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Lost," where a memorial litia was held.