Feast of the Annunciation in the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

On April 7, 2024, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Week of the Worship of the Cross, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Divine Liturgy in the main church of Alma-Ata - the Ascension Cathedral - was performed by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, administrator of the affairs of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

The southern aisle of the Ascension Cathedral is consecrated in honor of the Annunciation of the Mother of God.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was concelebrated by: the clergyman of the cathedral, the head of the public relations department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov and the clergy of the temple.

The hymns of the Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District under the direction of the Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of N. Zubrevich.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, glorification of the holiday took place - the troparion, kontakion and magnification of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos were sounded, “The Archangel’s voice cries out to You, Pure One: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You,” and veneration of the Cross of Christ.

After the completion of the service, in accordance with the ancient tradition of the Annunciation, Bishop Gennady, the clergy, parishioners and students of the children's Sunday school on the porch of the cathedral released birds - white doves.

Security and order in the Ascension Cathedral and in the adjacent territory were ensured by the Cossacks of the Semirechye Cossack Union, led by the ataman - a member of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (ANK), Cossack Colonel V.S. Shikhotov.