Metropolitan Alexander introduced the new archpastor to the flock of the Kokshetau diocese - Archbishop Varsonofy of Kokshetau and Akmola

April 9, 2025 - Wednesday of the 6th week of Great Lent; the day of remembrance of the martyr Matrona of Thessaloniki.

In the main church of the Kokshetau diocese - the Cathedral in honor of the Resurrection of Christ - Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan led the Divine Liturgy.

The head of the Metropolitan District was assisted by: newly appointed Archbishop Varsonofy of Kokshetau and Akmola; vicar of the Astana diocese Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; rector of the Michael the Archangel Church in the city of Shchuchinsk Archimandrite Nikolai (Karpov); Cleric of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Kokshetau, Archpriest Vasily Kachankin; Key-keeper of the Assumption Cathedral in Astana, Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek); Secretary of the Diocesan Administration, Dean of the Resurrection Cathedral in Kokshetau, Priest Valery Anferov; Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Metropolitan's Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky; Deacon John Churkin. A total of 50 clergymen of the Kokshetau Diocese assisted the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the ancient icon of the Iveron Mother of God, famous for its miracles and belonging to the ever-memorable elder-saint Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), was delivered to the main church of the city of Kokshetau. The custodian of the shrine is the rector of the Michael the Archangel Church in the city of Shchuchinsk, Archimandrite Nikolai (Karpov), a spiritual child of the confessor of faith and piety.

The liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Resurrection Cathedral under the direction of M. Petrova.

The following people prayed at the Liturgy: benefactors of the Resurrection Cathedral, the parish activists of the church, Orthodox believers of the city of Kokshetau, pilgrims from the cities and villages of the Akmola region.

The official accession to the administration of the diocese of Archbishop Varsonofy of Kokshetau and Akmola took place during the Liturgy. During the Trisagion song, Bishop Varsonofy blessed his flock for the first time with the cross and dikerion with the traditional archpastoral exclamation: "Look down from heaven, O God, and behold, and visit this vineyard, and strengthen it, which Thy right hand has planted."

The sermon on the verse after communion was delivered by Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek).

At the end of the service, the glorification of the Mother of God took place, after which the Metropolitan addressed the faithful with words of instruction.

The head of the Metropolitan District congratulated those present on the arrival of Bishop Varsonofy to the Kokshetau cathedra and called upon the clergy and laity of the diocese to filial obedience to the newly appointed archpastor. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that under the spiritual and administrative leadership of Archbishop Varsonofy, the Kokshetau and Akmola Diocese will steadily strengthen and develop. Metropolitan Alexander presented the newly appointed hierarch with a holy prosphora and an icon of the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan.

In his response, the new administrator of the Kokshetau Diocese expressed words of gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan for their high trust and asked for prayerful support from the archpastors of the Metropolitan District, clergy and Orthodox believers who gathered on this solemn day in the Resurrection Cathedral.

At the end of the service, the Metropolitan sprinkled the believers with holy water.