On the day of remembrance of the Apostle John the Theologian, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Liturgy in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Almaty

May 21, 2025 - celebration of the memory of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Easter rite in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Karasu microdistrict of Almaty.

The head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District was assisted by: Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; Dean of the parishes of the Southern capital, Rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov; Dean of the Ili Church District Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov; Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese Hieromonk Gennady (Burduzha); Head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Sacristan of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Priest Roman Burdukov; Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Sacristan of the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, Head of the Metropolitan's Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky and Deacon Alexander Piven.

For prayerful worship and spiritual strengthening of the faithful, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, an ark with a piece of stone from the Holy Sepulcher was brought to the church.

The chants of the Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.

The parishioners of the church and residents of nearby settlements prayed during the service.

The sermon on the verse after communion was delivered by Priest Georgy Rublinsky.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, the glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian took place, after which the Metropolitan Bishop pronounced the exclamation "Christ is risen!" in different languages.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan congratulated Bishop Veniamin, the clergy and the faithful on the day of remembrance of the Apostle of Love, thanking everyone for the joy of common prayer at the holy throne.