Celebration of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Chimkent. The Relics of Blessed Matrona Brought to Chimkent

On November 20, 2024, the feast of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Chimkent was celebrated, established by the decision of the Synod of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (Journal №16, May 26, 2014). On this same day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrates his 78th birthday.

At St. Nicholas Cathedral in Chimkent, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in honor of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Chimkent and the arrival of the reliquary containing the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow.

The service was presided over by Bishop Chrysanthe of Chimkent and Turkestan. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Alexander Mogilevsky, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Vitaly Smolyaninov, Rector of St. Nicholas Church in Turkestan; Priest Oleg Yeroshenko, Rector of St. John the Theologian Church in Turar Ryskulov village; Hieromonk Philip (Konovalov), Rector of St. George Church in Koksaek village; and clergy from St. Nicholas Cathedral: Archpriest Yevgeny Glushchenko, Hieromonk Sergius (Butin), Hieromonk Nicholas (Stroyev), Priest Ilya Markov, Protodeacon Alexei Gorobchenko, and Deacon John Abakuk.

The hymns of the Liturgy were performed by the choir of St. Nicholas Cathedral, directed by E. Aleshina.

Among the congregation were employees of the Chimkent Diocesan Administration, members of the Cossack community, Sunday school students, parishioners from Chimkent churches, and pilgrims from nearby settlements.

During the fervent litany, special prayers were offered for the celebrant, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill:

“Again, we pray to Thee, O Lord our God, to hearken unto the voice of our supplication and prayer, and to show mercy upon Thy servant, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill, who is honored today, granting him grace and compassion, fulfilling all his petitions, forgiving all his voluntary and involuntary transgressions. May his prayers and offerings be pleasing before the throne of Thy majesty, and protect him from visible and invisible enemies, deliver him from every calamity, distress, sorrow, and illness, and grant him health and long life. Let us all say: Lord, hearken and have mercy.

Look with mercy, O Master, Lover of mankind, with Thine all-compassionate gaze upon Thy servant, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill. Hear our prayers, which we offer in faith, for Thou hast said: ‘Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,’ and again: ‘Ask, and it shall be given to you.’ Therefore, though unworthy, trusting in Thy mercy, we ask: Grant Thy goodness to Thy servant, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill, fulfilling his desires. Preserve him in peace, health, and longevity all the days of his life. Let us all say: Lord, hearken swiftly and graciously have mercy.

May this thanksgiving of ours, as fragrant incense and a pure burnt offering, be pleasing to Thee, All-Bountiful Master, for the abundant blessings poured forth upon Thy servant, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill, in the fifty years of his ministry and monastic life. Kneeling in gratitude, we offer Thee praise, crying out: Deliver now and in the years to come Thy servant, who is honored today, and the Russian Church under his care from all visible and invisible adversaries. Grant to Her faithful children a blameless life with health, longevity, and progress in all virtues. We pray Thee, All-Generous King, graciously hearken and swiftly have mercy.”

During the memorial litany, prayers were offered for the repose of hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and all Orthodox Christians “who were tortured and killed during the fierce persecutions by godless oppressors, and those who died from hunger, cold, wounds, sickness, and unbearable labor in camps, prisons, and captivity.”

Following the communion hymn, an address from Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan was read, marking the arrival of the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Kazakhstan.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a service of glorification was held before the reliquary of Blessed Matrona, honoring the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Chimkent.

After the dismissal, a many years’ blessing was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Bishop Chrysanthe congratulated the clergy and faithful gathered for the celebration of the arrival of the relics of Blessed Matrona, a saint deeply revered throughout the Orthodox world. He addressed the faithful with words of spiritual encouragement.

After the service, veneration of the relics of Blessed Matrona began. Residents and guests of Chimkent, as well as numerous pilgrims from nearby cities and villages, gathered to offer their prayers to the holy intercessor.

The holy relics will remain in the Chimkent Diocese from November 20 to November 27.