The 15th Creative Children’s and Youth Festival “Christmas Angel” Held in Almaty

December 22, 2024. By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the 15th anniversary creative children’s and youth festival “Christmas Angel” took place in the Church Assembly Hall at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty.

The event was organized by the Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty with the support of the Department of Culture of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District.

The festival’s curators included Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, the Administrator of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, and Lyubov Yevgenyevna Goricheva, Honored Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Department of Culture. The project was directed by Galina Vasilyevna Cherepanova, Director of the Central Sunday School.

The festive program was hosted by Central Sunday School students Alexey Sobolev and Kira Vasilenko.

The event, dedicated to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, welcomed more than 200 participants from 14 parish schools across the city and region.

The children showcased their talents in three categories:. Singing, featuring three nominations: solo performance, ensemble, and choir.. Artwork and crafts exhibition. Dance competition.

The winners of the 15th Creative Children’s and Youth Festival “Christmas Angel” were selected by the jury through a secret ballot.

The awards ceremony was led by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen.

Before the start of the ceremony, Galina Vasilyevna Cherepanova delivered a welcoming address on behalf of the festival organizers. She expressed gratitude to all participants for their efforts and extended heartfelt congratulations on the upcoming New Year and Nativity of Christ.

The event concluded with a short concert featuring performances by participants of the creative contests.

Winners of the Festival

Children’s Drawing Competition

First place – Sunday School of Kazan Cathedral.

Second place – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Sunday School of the Church of St. Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Third place – Sunday School of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Sunday School of the Church of St. John the Theologian.

Children’s Craft Competition

First place – Sunday School of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery.

Second place – Central Sunday School and the Sunday School of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Third place – Sunday School of the Church of St. Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles and the Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia.

Winners of the Choreography Competition

Grand Prix – Central Sunday School, dance “The Light of the Christmas Star.”

First place – Sunday School of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery, dance “The Light of Christmas.”

Second place – Varvara Kutyreva, student of the Sunday School of St. Paraskeva the Great Martyr, dance “Drawing a Dream.”

Third place – Sunday School of St. Paraskeva the Great Martyr, dance “Nativity.”

Winners of the Singing Competition

Solo performance category

First place – Alexey Kornienko, student of the Sunday School of the Church of Christ the Savior.

Second place – Serafima Mamonova, student of the Central Sunday School.

Third place – duet of the Sunday School of the Church of St. Paraskeva the Great Martyr.

Ensemble category

First place – folklore ensemble “Gorenka” of the Sunday School of the Ascension Cathedral.

Second place – ensemble “We are from a Fairytale” of the Sunday School of the Church of Christ the Savior.

Third place – ensemble “Rodnichok” of the Sunday School of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Choir category

First place – choir of the Central Sunday School.

Second place – choir of the Sunday School of the Church of Christ the Savior and the choir of the Sunday School of the Church of Saints Adrian and Natalia.

Third place – choir of the Sunday School of Kazan Cathedral and the choir of the Sunday School of the Iveron-Seraphim Monastery.

The prize-winners of all competitions and categories received certificates, prizes, and memorable gifts from Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen. Addressing the audience, the hierarch thanked the organizers for their excellent work and congratulated the young winners, wishing them health, prosperity, and new creative achievements.