Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Nativity Great Vespers at the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty (+ VIDEO)

On January 7, 2024, on the evening of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Nativity Great Vespers in the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was concelebrated by: vicars of the Astana diocese - Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian and Bishop of Talgar Benjamin; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, dean of the parishes of the southern capital; heads of departments and commissions of the Metropolitan District, rectors and clergy of Almaty churches.

The following people prayed during the service: the abbess of the Iversko-Seraphim convent of Alma-Ata, Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) with the nuns of the monastery; Head of the public fund "Apostle" G.G. Sosnovsky; parishioners of churches in the southern capital.

In accordance with the liturgical Charter, after the singing of “Quiet Light,” the great prokeimenon was performed; further, the Head of the Metropolitan District read the concept from the Gospel of Luke about the Birth of the Savior.

At the end of the Great Supper, the head of the information and publishing department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, read out the Christmas message of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

At the end of the service, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, on behalf of the clergy and laity, congratulated His Eminence on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

The Sunday school of the Ascension Cathedral congratulated the Metropolitan and those gathered by singing the troparion of the Nativity of Christ and holiday carols.

The celebration was attended by the head of the Department of Religious Affairs of the city of Almaty N.M. Kikimov. Nurlan Medsantovich read out to those present at the service a Merry Christmas greetings from Akim of the Southern Capital E.A. Dosayev.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan said words of congratulations to the bishops, clergy, monastics and laity, thanked those gathered for the joy of common prayer at the beginning of the Yuletide period and delivered a sermon.