Kostanay Welcomed the Holy Relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow

On October 12, 2024, the holy relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, which are visiting Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, arrived in the Kostanay Diocese.

 

The relics were brought by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The transportation of the holy relics is supported by the public foundation “Apostle,” led by President G.G. Sosnovsky.

 

The visit is timed to coincide with significant historical dates — the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty Diocese and the upcoming 15th anniversary of the canonical status of the Metropolitan District.

 

At the airport, the hierarch and the accompanying delegation were welcomed by Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), secretary of the Kostanay Diocese, and E.B. Kalmakov, head of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Kostanay Regional Akimat.

 

From the airport, the casket containing the relics of Blessed Matrona was transported to the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

 

As the troparion to the righteous saint, “God-inspired Blessed Matrona,” was sung, the relics were carried under the arches of the Constantine-Helen Cathedral and placed in the center of the church, after which the All-Night Vigil began, led by Metropolitan Alexander.

 

The Metropolitan was joined in service by: Mitred Protopriest Evgeny Vorobyov, rector of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Almaty; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), assistant to the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan in the Kostanay Diocese; Protopriest Vasily Korolev, rector of the Michael the Archangel Church in Kachar village of Kostanay Region; Igumen Innokenty (Pomogalov), cleric of the main cathedral of the diocese; Protopriest Oleg Kalmykov, rector of the church of Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt in Lisakovsk; Protopriest Andrey Korchazhnikov, cleric of the Constantine-Helen Cathedral; Protopriest Vitaly Kleba, rector of Michael the Archangel Church in Kostanay; Protopriest Vitaly Gutsan, rector of Saint Nicholas Church in Kostanay; Protopriest Alexiy Mostovshchikov, rector of the parish of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Fedorovka village, Kostanay Region; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat; Priest Georgiy Sidorov, head of the administrative secretariat of the Metropolitan District; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, head of the Metropolitan’s protocol service; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; and Deacon Ioann Churkin, along with rectors and clergy of the Kostanay Diocese.

 

The choir of the Constantine-Helen Cathedral, directed by T. Zhebrak, sang during the service.

 

At the Polyeleos, the clergy sang the magnification of Blessed Matrona.

 

After the reading of the Gospel passage, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the Sunday celebration and the joy of bringing the great Orthodox relic to the Kostanay Diocese, and then addressed the assembled with a word of guidance.

 

During the singing of the canon, the faithful were anointed with holy oil.

 

The Head of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Constantine-Helen Cathedral. The service will begin at 8:30 a.m.

 

The holy relics will remain in the Kostanay Diocese from October 12 to 14.