Feast Day at the Oldest Church in Almaty – the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Cathedral

November 4, 2024 – celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the oldest church in Almaty – the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Cathedral in “Malaya Stanitsa,” marking its patronal feast day.

The Kazan Cathedral holds two significant relics: a revered 17th-century icon of the Kazan Mother of God, gifted to the parish by the confessor of faith and ascetic of the 20th century, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), and a precise replica, a “measure and likeness,” of the Vatican copy of the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The blessing of the copy from the original miraculous icon in Kazan was performed by Metropolitan Alexander on October 16, 2021.

Bishop Klavdian was concelebrated by Cathedral sacristan Priest Georgy Rublinsky, clergy members Protopriest Viktor Nelin, Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin), and Hieromonk Isaac (Isteleyev) of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Almaty; Deacon Konstantin Volnyagin; and Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

In attendance were the head of the “Apostle” public foundation, G.G. Sosnovsky, staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, and parishioners from the city’s churches. The choir, directed by M.S. Chistyakova, sang the hymns of the Liturgy.

Following the Liturgy, a hymn of praise was sung before the Kazan Icon, after which a procession took place. A memorial litia was then held at the necropolis near the altar of the Kazan Cathedral. Bishop Klavdian warmly congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the feast day and spoke on the veneration of the Most Holy Mother of God.