Celebration in honor of the Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God

July 6, 2024 – celebration in honor of the Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God.

The Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a list of the shrine of the Orthodox world, the revered shrine of the Russian Orthodox Church - the miraculous Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. The copy of the revealed Pochaev icon was brought from Pochaev in the early 60s by the rector of the Constantine-Eleninsky Church in Tselinograd (now Astana), Archpriest Nikolai Ivanenko. In the early 70s, the tradition of venerating the holy icon was continued by the outstanding shepherd and confessor of the faith, Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin). On June 4, 2011, at a meeting of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, chaired by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, it was established to celebrate the annual feast of the Astana Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary on July 6 in the new style.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed the Divine Liturgy in the oldest church in the city of Astana - the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; Bishop of Ural and Atyrau Vianor; dean of the Astana church district Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), abbot of the St. George Meshchovo Monastery Archimandrite Georgy (Evdachev) (Kaluga Metropolis), Archpriest Mikhail Zinchenko, keymaster of the Assumption Cathedral Archpriest Dimitry Baidek, hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov), head of the personal secretariat Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, cleric of the Kaluga Metropolis, Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy, Deacon Ilya Davydov, Deacon John Churkin, Deacon John Yanchuk.

The choir of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena sang under the direction of N.V. Mazurina.

The sermon on the sacramental verse was delivered by Hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov).

At the end of the Liturgy, glorification took place before the Astana image of the Most Holy Theotokos, after which the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan overshadowed the worshipers with the image of the Mother of God and sprinkled everyone with holy water.

At the end of the service, Bishop Metropolitan cordially thanked the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, parishioners and guests for the joy of common prayer on the day of celebration in honor of the icon of the Queen of Heaven, the patron saint of the capital of Kazakhstan - Astana, congratulated everyone on the holiday and delivered a sermon.

His Eminence congratulated Deacon John Churkin on his birthday anniversary. Metropolitan Alexander presented Father John with the holy prosphora and wished him health, longevity and God's help in serving the Church of Christ.

“The lessons of the past teach us, Orthodox Christians of the 21st century: a true believer on the path of earthly life, no matter how difficult it may be, is called to keep in his soul “faith and trust in God” (1 Pet. 1:21) - a priceless spiritual treasure , which inspired the apostles, strengthened the martyrs and confessors, increased the strength of the saints, and encouraged the saints to the ascetic life. The Mother of God Herself serves as an example for us of Christian life - Who, according to the words of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, “was always cheerful in persecution and troubles, was not upset in need and poverty, was not angry with those who insulted Her, but even did good to them; she was meek in prosperity, merciful to the poor and helped them as much as she could, she was a teacher in piety and in every good deed.” May the mercy of the Most Holy Lady Theotokos relentlessly, “at all times and at every hour,” abide with all of us who honor Her miraculous icons and with faith worship Her - the Mother of our Lord and our loving Mother, the Queen of Heaven and earth.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.