In the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty, Metropolitan Alexander read the third part of the great penitential canon (+VIDEO)

March 5, 2025, on Wednesday of the first week of Lent, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, continued reading the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.

On Wednesday, several troparia are added to the great canon in honor of St. Mary of Egypt, who turned from a deep spiritual fall to high piety.

The heads of departments of the Metropolitan District, clergy of the Ascension Cathedral, employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, and parishioners prayed at the service.

The chants of Compline were performed by: the choir of the Metropolitan District under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikova and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of E. Boguslavets.

After reading the canon, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan addressed the congregation with a word of edification.

A live broadcast of the reading of the canon of St. Andrew of Crete took place on the YouTube channel of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District "Semirechie".

On Thursday, Metropolitan Alexander will complete the reading of the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the main church of the Southern capital.

"My soul, my soul, arise, why do you sleep? The end is approaching ...", - we hear in the first days of Lent the heartfelt words of the great penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete. As a saving remedy for internal secularization, as an effective way to awaken from sinful sleep and return to the Heavenly Father, the Church of Christ offers us the penitential days of Holy Lent. Lent provides a guide to life according to the Gospel in our world, immersed in the abyss of sin, teaches how to overcome evil inclinations and acquire virtues, reveals the joy of life with God. It is necessary to realize that observing Lent is not only important, but also an integral condition for the right path to salvation. Saint Ambrose of Milan notes: “Christ sanctified this time with His fast. Those Christians who do not fast during Holy Lent show treachery and stubbornness, violating the law given by God for salvation by overeating… Just as observing the fast is a good deed, so violating it during Lent is a sin.” Sometimes you can hear such self-justification from people who are still far from real spiritual life: “No one taught us, we know nothing, we do not understand.” But now Mother Church appeals to everyone: “Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). The special order of the services, prostrations, dark vestments, touchingly drawn-out chants - all this effectively helps us, having put aside the earthly and perishable, to turn with all our hearts to the Heavenly and eternal. This liturgical treasure of the Church cannot be neglected. Frequent visits to the temple of God, participation in church services, attention to prayers and hymns are one of the important aspects of observing the fast and a real school of piety." From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.