Celebrations in honor of the martyr Agathia of Panorma - the heavenly intercessor from earthquakes and natural disasters - took place in Alma-Ata (+VIDEO)

February 17, 2024 is the after-feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the day of remembrance of the martyr Agathia of Panorma and Sicily.

The head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iversko-Seraphim Monastery in Almaty.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Archbishop Varnava of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz, Archbishop Sevastian of Karaganda and Shakhty, Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, administrator of the affairs of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan; Bishop of Aktobe and Kyzylorda Ignatius, vicars of the Astana diocese - Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian and Bishop of Talgar Benjamin; Bishop of Ural and Atyrau Vianor, dean of the parishes of the southern capital, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; rectors of churches and clergy of the Alma-Ata diocese; clergy who arrived with the archpastor guests; The diaconal rank was headed by Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich.

In the Iversko-Seraphim convent in the city of Alma-Ata there is an ark with a particle of the relics of the holy martyr Agathia of Panorma. On October 13, 2014, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', the shrine was donated to the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District by the International Charitable Christian Foundation “Triumph of the Heart” in response to the petition of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The Martyr Agathia of Panorma has the special grace to save those who call upon her holy name in prayer from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires and other natural disasters.

The chants were performed by the choir of St. Sophia Cathedral under the direction of O. Usoltseva.

Praying during the service were: the abbess of the Iversko-Seraphim Monastery, Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), with the sisters of the monastery, employees of the Alma-Ata diocesan administration, benefactors of the diocese, members of the teaching corporation and seminary students, pilgrims and parishioners.

After the special litany, a prayer was offered for the protection of the southern capital and all of Kazakhstan from natural disasters.

At the funeral litany, those who tragically died from earthquakes and other natural disasters were especially commemorated.

The sermon after the communion verse was delivered by Priest John Livinsky.

At the end of the Liturgy, the glorification of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the martyr Agathia of Panorma took place before the image of the saint and the ark with a particle of her venerable relics. A prayer was said to Saint Agathia with the petition “to deliver the city of Alma-Ata, and all Christian cities and countries from the land of earthquakes and fiery incinerations, to protect all people from troubles and misfortunes, to grant deliverance from sins and affirmation of the Orthodox faith.”

Many years were proclaimed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; To the head, archpastors, clergy and flock of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; To the President, authorities, military and all the people of Kazakhstan.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Alexander cordially thanked the hierarchs, clergy, monastics and all participants in the celebration for the common prayer, congratulated those gathered on the celebration in honor of the martyr Agathia of Panorma and delivered a sermon.

The video recording of the service was made by the Orthodox television studio “Semirechye” (director - Honored Worker of Culture V.L. Posadneva); photographic recording was carried out by I. Burenin.

Throughout the day in the St. Sophia Cathedral, prayerful veneration was performed in front of the ark with the relics of the saint of God.