Memorial Day of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates. Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Liturgy at the Archangel Michael Church in the city of Kaskelen

February 21, 2024 is the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Archangel Michael Church in the city of Kaskelen, Alma-Ata region.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Bishop Vianor of the Ural and Atyrau; dean of the parishes of Almaty, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, mitered archpriest Valery Zakharov; Dean of the Uzun-Agash church district Archpriest Gennady Kadnikov, rector of the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, rector of the Archangel Michael Church in the city of Kaskelen Archpriest Pavel Pridatchenko, head of the Metropolitan District Commission for Charity and Social Service Archpriest Vyacheslav Pugachev; Head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, Head of the Metropolitan's Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon Sergiy Slesarchuk, Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

At the beginning of the service, the icon of the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates, kept in the home Iversko-Seraphim Church of the Metropolitan Residence in Alma-Ata, was delivered to the temple for prayerful worship and spiritual strengthening of believers.

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

His Eminence read a prayer for the increase of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

The sermon on the sacramental verse was delivered by Priest Georgy Sidorov.

At the end of the service, glorification took place before the icon of the Presentation of the Lord - the clergy and choir performed the troparion, kontakion and magnification of the holiday.

“The word “martyr” in Greek means “witness.” Those who suffered for the true faith testified to a world mired in vice and godlessness about the strength of their Christian hope, about the eternal, enduring values of the Gospel. And the world obeyed this testimony. “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity,” said the church writer Tertullian in the 3rd century. The Great Martyr Theodore, one of the most famous saints of the early Church, testified to his strong faith and love for Christ by renouncing earthly glory and courageously enduring the most sophisticated tortures from the pagan rulers. During the days of his earthly life, he performed miracles, turning idolaters to the knowledge of the True God and after his suffering death he became famous as a quick helper and intercessor of Orthodox Christians. This saint is associated with the appearance within Northern Rus', in the ancient city of Kostroma, in the 13th century of the great shrine of Orthodoxy - the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which received its name from the name of the great martyr - “Theodorovskaya”.
Holidays in honor of the martyrs of Christ carry many moral lessons. Today no one threatens us with death, torture, prison or exile for our faith in Christ. But the tragedy is that now, without any coercion, some people stop living a spiritual life and renounce their faith. Others viciously attack the Church in which they were baptized and raised, meticulously look for existing shortcomings, and more often, use outright lies. The prophetic word of the Gospel is coming true: Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Indeed, this holy feeling towards God and neighbor is becoming scarce in people. What can save us from these temptations, from spiritual laziness and lukewarmness? Of course, the strong faith and example of courageous and noble Christians, who, even in the face of threats of torture and death, did not renounce God or betray their faith. “They suffered and we rejoice,” St. John Chrysostom exclaims about the martyrs, “they labored and we rejoice; their crown and glory is the glory of the whole Church. Just as they sympathize with us in our sins, so we rejoice with them in their exploits.” Honoring the feasts of the martyrs, we strengthen our spirit, overcome weaknesses and eradicate vices, and gain confidence in following the commandments of Christ.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.