The head of the Metropolitan District celebrated the Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral of Pavlodar

October 17, 2024 - the commemoration of the uncovering of the relics of Saints Guriy, Archbishop of Kazan and Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver.

In the main church of the Pavlodar Diocese - the Annunciation Cathedral of the city of Pavlodar, a festive Divine Liturgy was held on the occasion of the bringing of the ark with the relics of the blessed nun Matrona of Moscow.

The service was led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was co-served by: Archbishop Barnabas of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the city of Almaty, Archpriest Yevgeny Vorobyov, Key keeper of the Pavlodar Nativity of Christ Church, Archpriest Konstantin Kutasevich, Secretary of the Pavlodar Diocese and Dean of the Pavlodar Church District, Archpriest Alexy Stepanov, Dean of the Terenkol Church District, Archpriest Vladimir Trubachenko, Head of the Metropolitan's Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Diocesan Department for Religious Education and Catechesis, Priest Artemy Zhdanov, Cleric of the Peter and Paul Church at the eponymous Pavlodar Convent, Priest Alexander Malygin, Cleric of the Iveron-Seraphim Cathedral in the city of Ekibastuz, Priest Anatoly Basalayev, Priest Vasily Tkachuk, Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon Amvrosy Taukenov, Deacon Ioann Churkin.

The liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Annunciation Cathedral under the direction of Elena Yusupzhanova.

The following prayed at the service: the abbess of the Peter and Paul Convent in Pavlodar, nun Seraphima (Bolibok) with the sisters of the monastery, Cossacks, pupils of Sunday schools, parishioners of churches in Pavlodar, pilgrims from surrounding settlements.

According to the communion verse, priest Artemy Zhdanov read out the address of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan on the occasion of the bringing of the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow to Kazakhstan.

At the end of the Liturgy, the glorification of Saints Guriy and Barsanuphius, as well as the blessed nun Matrona in front of the ark with her relics, took place.

After the final blessing of the people at the end of the service, many years were proclaimed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'; the Head and episcopate of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; the President, authorities, army and all the people of Kazakhstan.

Archbishop Barnabas of Pavlodar thanked Metropolitan Alexander for the spiritual gift to the faithful of the Pavlodar diocese - the opportunity to venerate the great shrine of Orthodoxy - the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow.

The head of the Metropolitan District congratulated the hierarchs, clergy and all participants in the celebrations on the bringing to Pavlodar of the relics of the saint especially revered in the Orthodox world and addressed the worshipers with a word of edification.

After the service, the worship of the relics of the blessed nun Matrona began. Residents and guests of the city of Pavlodar, a large number of pilgrims from nearby cities and villages gathered to offer prayers to the saint of God.