Vigil on the Eve of the Patronal Feast of the Dormition Cathedral in the Capital of Kazakhstan

On August 27, 2024, in Astana, on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed the all-night vigil at the Dormition Cathedral. 

The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos is the patronal day of the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.

During the vigil, the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District was assisted by the Vicar of the Astana Diocese, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; the dean of the parishes of the capital of Kazakhstan, Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev); the cathedral clergy; and clerics of the Astana deanery.

Among those praying during the service were Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk, activists of the Astana Orthodox Youth Movement, teachers and students of the central Sunday school, and parishioners from the capital's churches.

At the great vespers, according to the church typikon, a litiya (intensified prayer) was performed with the blessing of bread, wine, wheat, and oil.

At the matins, during the singing of the troparion of the feast "In birth, you preserved your virginity," the epitaphios with the image of the Dormition of the Theotokos was brought out from the altar to the middle of the church and placed on a tomb adorned with flowers and grapevines.

After the reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those gathered on the approaching feast and anointed the clergy and the faithful with holy oil.

On the day of the feast itself, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral. The service will begin at 9:00 a.m.