On Bright Monday and the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, the Head of the Metropolitan District celebrated the Liturgy at the Annunciation Church in the southern capital

May 6, 2024 - Monday of Bright Week, celebration in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, the Martyr Queen Alexandra, the Martyrs Anatoly and Protoleon, the Hieromartyr John Anserov, the presbyter martyred in Karlag.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed the Divine Liturgy with the Easter rite in the church in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the microdistrict of the city of Almaty - Alatau, where the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan is located.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was co-served by: vicars of the Astana diocese - Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; dean of the churches of the Southern capital, rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov, rector of the temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Archimandrite Gabriel (Tutberidze), dean of the Ili church district Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, rector of the St. John the Baptist Church of the village of Guldala Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, Priest Alexander Vavulidi, keymaster of the Kazan Cathedral of Alma-Ata, Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Priest Rustik Nurgaliev; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon John Churkin, Deacon Rustik Yakupov, Deacon Sergiy Slesarchuk.

The men's choir of the Alma-Ata diocese under the direction of Deacon Alexander Pivny sang.

Those who prayed during the service were: President of the Apostle Public Foundation G.G. Sosnovsky, Orthodox residents of the Alatau microdistrict and believers from surrounding settlements.

Using the communion verse, Priest Georgy Sidorov read out the Easter message of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

At the end of the Liturgy, glorification of the feast of Holy Pascha was celebrated, after which the archpastor pronounced the exclamation “Christ is Risen!” in different languages - ancient and modern.

At the end of the service, the Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated Bishop Claudian and Bishop Veniamin on the anniversary of their archpastoral consecration. The Metropolitan presented the hierarchs with memorable panagias and wished them health and God’s help in their holy labors for the benefit of the Church of Christ on Kazakhstani soil.

By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', in consideration of assistance to the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, the President of MARIA LLP M.P. Parfenova was awarded the Order of St. Euphrosyne, Grand Duchess of Moscow, III degree.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated Archpriest Georgy Kharlov, Priest Georgy Sidorov, Priest Georgy Rublinsky and the President of the Apostle Public Foundation G.G. Sosnovsky on the day of the heavenly patron. His Eminence wished the namesake God's help in their work for the good of the Church of Christ and presented them with icons of the heavenly patron.

Having shared Christ with the clergy and believers, Vladyka Metropolitan delivered a sermon.