Condolences from the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, on the death of Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko)

To His Grace, Most Reverend Vianor, Bishop of Uralsk and Atyrau
To the clergy and flock of the Uralsk Diocese of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District

Your Grace, dear Vladyka!

Dear brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

In the time of Bright Week, filled with the special grace of God, when the visible and invisible world rejoices in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, the Creator and Provider moved from temporary existence to eternity His faithful servant, Archbishop Anthony, the oldest hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

"Let no one fear death," exclaims Saint John Chrysostom in his sermon on the feast of Easter, "for the death of the Savior has set us free. Christ is risen and life is restored; Christ is risen and there is not a single dead person in the grave." Therefore, funeral hymns are now combined with jubilant Easter exclamations, and the pain of parting with the deceased is eased by the good news of the Lord's victory over non-existence.

The late archpastor lived a long life, filled with many events. At a young age, having received an education at the Krasnoyarsk State University, and then at the Moscow Theological Academy, he heeded the call of the Chief Shepherd Christ and took upon himself the cross of serving the Holy Church. By the providence of God, the late bishop was destined to carry out various church obediences - he worked in the churches of the Khmelnitsky diocese, was the rector of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv and the administrator of the affairs of the Ukrainian Exarchate. By the will of the hierarchy, forty years ago, his archpastoral consecration took place - he became Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, vicar of the Kyiv diocese, then headed the Chernivtsi diocese.

At the dawn of Kazakhstan's independence, in 1991, Bishop Anthony became the head of the newly formed Uralsk diocese, which at that time united the parishes of five regions of the Republic. For more than three decades, he worked with zeal and passion in the work of evangelical preaching, always striving to carry out his ministry "in purity, undertsanding, patience and kindness, in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love" (2 Cor. 6:6). A huge number of Kazakhstanis, regardless of nationality and religious beliefs, respected and appreciated the bishop. His many years of activity aimed at affirming the ideals of goodness and mercy in society, his efforts to strengthen friendship between peoples were noted with high church and state awards, as well as the title of "Honorary Citizen" of the West Kazakhstan region, the cities of Uralsk and Atyrau. Great worldly wisdom, openness and sociability, tireless care for all aspects of church life in the region earned the late archpastor the love of his spiritual children, clergy and flock. During the days of the celebration of Holy Easter, “opening the gates of paradise to us,” Archbishop Anthony was born for eternity. Let us pray fervently to the Savior of the world, risen from the grave, for the repose of the newly departed hierarch in the heavenly abodes – where there is no illness, no sorrow, no sighing, but life is endless. And may he be vouchsafed to hear the desired voice of Christ, to Whom he dedicated his entire life: “Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matt. 25:21).

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God and our Father, who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” console our hearts and “encourage you in every good deed and word” (2 Thess. 2:16-17).

Eternal and grateful memory to the newly departed Archbishop Anthony!