Opening of the International Festival “Paschal Song” Held in Alma-Ata

May 15, 2026. Alma-Ata. By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the International Festival of Orthodox Choral Music “Paschal Song” commenced its work.

The opening of the choral forum, held with the support of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” headed by its president V.M. Kapsamun, took place at St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Monastery in the Southern Capital.

The initiator of the event was O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, conductor of the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing.

The festival is being conducted within the framework of the work of the Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing under His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

The organizer of the musical forum is the Department of Culture of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan (head – Honored Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation L.E. Goricheva).

The aims and objectives of the festival include: promoting spiritual heritage and contemporary musical and compositional creativity in the field of choral culture; supporting the revival of traditions of singing and spiritual culture; strengthening the role of choral culture in the spiritual and aesthetic education of the younger generation; introducing works of spiritual orientation from past eras and modern times; familiarizing participants with Slavic and Kazakh folk song traditions; enhancing the artistic level and performance mastery of parish and secular choirs; identifying new trends in the methodology of mastering and performing sacred, classical, and folk music; and increasing overall interest in choral music.

To conduct master classes and lectures within the forum, distinguished figures of Orthodox musical art arrived, including: A.A. Puzakov, director of the Moscow Synodal Choir; V.A. Volkova, Executive Secretary of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the Development of Russian Church Singing and conductor of the “Artos” Choir of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow; and A.K. Maiorov, senior conductor of the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, Moscow.

Participants in the festival included choir ensembles from across Kazakhstan: the Choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District (director – Honored Artist of the Russian Federation O.N. Ovchinnikov; choirmaster – V.V. Dudareva); the choir of the Dormition Cathedral of Astana (director – Olga Varentsova); the choir of the Kokshetau Diocese (director – Maria Petrova); the choir of the Kostanay Diocese (director – Tatyana Zhebrak); the choir of the Ust-Kamenogorsk Diocese (director – Yulia Khokhryakova); the choir of the Uralsk Diocese (director – Olga Vorfolomeeva); the choir of the Pavlodar Diocese (director – Elena Yusupzhanova); the choir of the Petropavlovsk Diocese (director – Anna Opletina); the choir of the Chimkent Diocese (director – Elena Aleshina); and the choir of the Karaganda Diocese (director – Vladimir Teslenko).

Before the opening of the event, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, vicar of the Astana Diocese, read aloud a greeting from Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan to the organizers and participants of the festival.

“I cordially greet the conductors and choristers gathered in the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan – the city of Alma-Ata – to participate in this great musical celebration dedicated to the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Pascha, God’s saving Passover, occupies a truly special place in the life of the Church in its fullness and in the life of every Orthodox Christian, for the Resurrection of the Savior is the cornerstone of our faith and testimony to God’s boundless love for the human race. Today, when countries and nations are undergoing difficult trials, art is more than ever called to inspire people and strengthen their spirit. The holding of our festival is part of the great creative and constructive work carried out, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, by the Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing. I am convinced that the choral assembly opening today will become not only a significant cultural event in the life of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, but will also provide those laboring in the field of Orthodox musical art with an excellent opportunity to discuss practical and theoretical issues on a professional level, exchange experience, and discover something new in the realm of theological scholarship and the traditions of Orthodox worship.”

Matushka Varvara Volkova read a greeting from Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashin, chairman of the Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing.

Following the reading of the greetings, the plenary session opened, during which the following presentations were delivered:

– Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, rector of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary and Candidate of Theology – “A Theological Commentary on the Canon of Holy Pascha”;

– Alexander Konstantinovich Maiorov, conductor of the choir of the Moscow Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo – “Work on Ensemble as the Foundation of Professional Mastery of a Choral Collective”;

– Matushka Varvara Volkova, Executive Secretary of the Patriarchal Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing and conductor of the “Artos” Choir of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow – “Techniques for Performing Modal Chants. Conducting Methods for Hymns Without Meter.”

After the presentations, discussions of the reports and interaction between delegates and speakers took place.

As part of the festival’s opening, practical sessions with choir ensembles were held under the guidance of O.N. Ovchinnikov, A.K. Maiorov, and Matushka Varvara Volkova.

The musical forum will continue through May 17 and conclude with a performance by the combined choir of festival participants during the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral of Alma-Ata.