State Medal Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory Awarded to the Eldest Nun of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent in Almaty – Schema-nun Irina (Lyubitskaya)

May 5, 2025 – Almaty. A ceremony was held in the fireplace hall of the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), to honor the eldest nun of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent of the Southern Capital, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Schema-nun Irina (Lyubitskaya), who is celebrating her 100th birthday.

Schema-nun Irina (Lyubitskaya) was awarded the state jubilee medal “80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 825 dated March 26, 2025, issued by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev. The medal was established to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

By instruction of the Head of State, the award was presented by the Akim of the Medeu District, Y.N. Orazalin.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan also took part in the ceremony.

Among the guests were: from the Orthodox Church – Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, acting rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and head of the Information Department of the Metropolis; Priest Georgy Sidorov, head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), superior of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent of the Southern Capital, together with the sisters of the convent; and from the civil authorities – N.M. Kikimov, head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the city of Almaty.

While presenting the high state award, Yerkebulan Nurlanovich conveyed to Schema-nun Irina the congratulations of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev, noting that the veteran’s life path is an example of service to the people, selfless labor, and patriotism. Y.N. Orazalin wished the mother good health, longevity, and well-being.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude to the Akim and, through him, to the Head of State for the special attention shown to those who made a significant contribution to the Victory of our people in the Great Patriotic War.

“The Great Victory holds immense spiritual and moral significance for all of us living today. We must strive to be worthy of the sacrificial feat performed by our fathers and grandfathers during the war years. It is important to remember the price paid for the freedom from the fascist plague, the opportunity for future generations of free people to live and work in peace and friendship. We must faithfully preserve the legacy of brotherhood sealed by the blood shed on the battlefields. As the President of Kazakhstan, the highly esteemed Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, has said: ‘It is our sacred duty to remember the lessons of that terrible war and to honor the unparalleled heroism of the older generation,’” the archpastor emphasized.