The head of the Metropolitan District led the patronal celebrations of the Almaty church in honor of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

January 8, 2024 - the after-feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, the celebration in honor of the relatives of Christ in the flesh - the holy prophet and king David, righteous Joseph the Betrothed and the Apostle James, brother of the Lord.

The day after the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Orthodox Church, with songs of praise and thanksgiving, turns to the Mother of God, who served the mystery of the Incarnation.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Liturgy in the Alma-Ata church in honor of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, celebrating the patronal feast.

His Eminence was served by: vicars of the Astana diocese - the manager of the affairs of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; dean of Almaty churches, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; rector of the Almaty Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, head of the Department of Education and Catechesis of the Metropolitan District, rector of the Intercession Church and the Church in honor of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archpriest Evgeny Bobylev; Deputy Head of the DECR of the Georgian Orthodox Church Archpriest Archil Khachidze and Head of the Public Relations Department Archpriest Georgiy Pirtskhelani; rector of the Paraskevi Church and Alexander Nevsky Church Archpriest Ioann Lopatin, rector of the Iversky Church in the village of Boroldai Hegumen Filaret (Petrochenko), custodian of the Nativity Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya, rector of the Epiphany Church Archpriest Valery Shavrin, dean of the Ili Church District Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, cleric of the Peter and Paul Church Alma - Archpriest Kirill Shklyar, rector of the Mother of God Church of the Nativity of the Akzhar microdistrict, Hieromonk Alexy (Cherevtsov), Priest Alexy Muraev, Priest Roman Burdukov, head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, clergy of St. John the Theologian churches Hieromonk Gennady (Soloviev), Hieromonk Sergius (Vnukovsky), Priest John Konoplev, sacristan of the Kazan Cathedral of Alma-Ata, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon John Churkin, Deacon Bohdan Boyko.
For prayerful worship and spiritual strengthening of believers, arks with great shrines were delivered to the temple - particles of the relics of the Godfathers Joachim and Anna, as well as a copy of the ark with the Gifts of the Magi, brought to Alma-Ata from the Athonite monastery of St. Paul.

The chants were performed by the men's choir of the Alma-Ata diocese under the direction of Deacon Alexander Pivny and the church choir under the direction of N. Lepeshkina.

The following people prayed during the service: Archimandrite Gabriel (Tutberidze), teachers and students of the theological and missionary faculty of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary, teachers and students of the parish Sunday school named after the Apostle John the Theologian, and parishioners of the church.

His Eminence offered prayers for the increase of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

Using the communion verse, Archpriest Kirill Shklyar read out the Christmas message of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

At the end of the service, glorification of the Nativity of Christ took place, after which Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the holiday of the coming of God the Word into the world and the triumph in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, and addressed those gathered with a sermon.

“When we hear the holy words of Christmas carols, our souls are filled with a special experience, since, according to the testimony of St. John Chrysostom, “Our holidays began from the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, like various streams from a source.” Listening to the gospel and reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation, we discover for ourselves “the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience of God” (Rom. 2:4) and at the same time we learn to be grateful to our Savior for the fact that “we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).
Our sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a virtuous life according to the Gospel commandments are worthy gifts to the born Savior instead of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the wise men brought to Him. An integral part of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ are works of mercy. Let us, in the coming holidays, remember those who need our attention and participation, who can be warmed by our love and compassion. The Lord Himself said: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.