September 29, 2024 – Almaty. The relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, which are visiting Kazakhstan by the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, have arrived in the southern capital.
The event coincides with historical dates—the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Astana and Almaty Diocese and the upcoming 15th anniversary of the canonical status of the Metropolitan District.
Support for the bringing of the relics is provided by the “Apostle” Public Foundation, led by its president, G.G. Sosnovsky.
From Almaty International Airport, the holy relics were brought to the Sophia Cathedral of the Iversk-Seraphim Convent, where the revered relics were received by clergy and numerous faithful.
To the singing of the troparion to the righteous one, the reliquary with the holy relics was brought under the cathedral's vaults and placed at the center of the church.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan led a prayer service, attended by: Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Benjamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Metropolitan Eugene of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye, Vicar Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan from the Astana Diocese, Vicar Bishop Benjamin of Talgar from the Astana Diocese, rectors of churches, and the clergy of the Almaty Diocese, along with visiting clergy who arrived with the guest hierarchs.
Also attending the service were: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Council on Church Singing Development O.N. Ovchinnikov, Abbess Lubov (Yakushkina) of the Iversk-Seraphim Convent, along with the sisters of the convent, President of the "Apostle" Public Foundation G.G. Sosnovsky, staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, students of the Almaty Theological Seminary, and parishioners from the churches of the southern capital.
At the conclusion of the prayer service, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the gathered faithful on the significant event—the bringing of Blessed Matrona’s relics to Almaty.
Media support was provided by “Interfax-Kazakhstan.”
The arrival of the relics in Kazakhstan’s southern capital was covered by First Channel “Eurasia,” journalists from print media, information and analytical online publications, and well-known Almaty bloggers.
Security and order within the Sophia Cathedral and the monastery grounds were ensured by the Cossacks of the Semirechye Cossack Union, led by a member of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, Ataman V.S. Shikhotov.
The liturgy was recorded by the Orthodox television studio “Semirechye” (director—Honored Cultural Worker V.L. Posadneva, cameraman—A. Schmidt).
On September 30, at 8:00 AM, a festive Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Sophia Cathedral of the Iversk-Seraphim Monastery, after which access to the relics will be open to all who wish to venerate them.
From September 29 to October 7, the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow will remain at the Iversk-Seraphim Monastery, located at Latif Hamidi Street, 30, corner of Zhangelden and Ashimbaev Streets.
Access to the relics is free—from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
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