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The delegation of the Syro-Malankara Church of India visited the shrines of Almaty

On April 23, 2024, a pilgrim delegation of the Indian Catholic Church of the Syro-Malankara rite visited the shrines of Almaty.

The group was led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Archbishop George Panamthundil.

The delegation included: Bishop Jose Luis Mumbiela Sierra, Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of the Most Holy Trinity in Almaty; Bishop of the Diocese of Pathanamthitta Samuel Mar Irenios; diocesan clergy - the rector of the pilgrimage parish of St. George in the village of Chandanappalli, priest Babi Varghese and priest John Vilayail; employee of the Apostolic Nunciature of Astana, nun Daria Golubkova; believers of St. George's parish.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is one of the ancient Christian communities of India, in union with Rome and dating back to the times of the first enlightener of Indian lands - St. Thomas the Apostle. Most of its believers live in the state of Kerala, on the coast of which one of the 12 closest disciples of the Lord first landed almost 2,000 years ago. Pathanamthitta is a city in the state of Kerala. The Diocese of Pathanamthitta is part of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum.

Upon arrival in Alma-Ata, the pilgrims visited the Ascension Cathedral, a historical and architectural monument of Kazakhstan.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a tour of the main church of the southern capital was conducted by the cathedral’s clergyman, head of the Metropolitan District’s public relations department, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov.

Father Alexander told the guests about the history of the construction of the temple, noting the uniqueness of the architecture, the historical role and significance of the cathedral in the spiritual life of the city. The shepherd dwelled in detail on the details of the large-scale professional restoration of the temple, carried out in 2017-2020. It was noted that all work was carried out under the control of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNESCO, with the involvement of professional specialists of the highest level from Kazakhstan, Russia, Serbia, Italy, Germany and France. Archpriest Alexander emphasized that the Ascension Cathedral is included in the list of 100 national sacred sites of Kazakhstan under the presidential program “Rukhani Zhangyru”.

Representatives of the Syro-Malankara Church noted the grace and grandeur of the external appearance of the temple and the beauty of the interiors, decorated with paintings made by talented Palekh isographers under the leadership of a member of the Union of Artists of Russia V.K. Kurilova. At the end of the visit, pilgrims lit candles in front of the cathedral's shrines.

Members of the delegation visited the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), where they met with Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Then the Catholic hierarchs and those accompanying them got acquainted with the life of the Iversko-Seraphim convent in Alma-Ata. The excursion was conducted by the vice-rector for educational work of the Alma-Ata Seminary, Priest John Livinsky. The guests visited the main church of the monastery - the St. Sophia Cathedral, which houses the great shrines of Orthodoxy - parts of the relics of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sophia, the blessed elder Matrona of Moscow, the martyr Agathia of Panorma - protector from earthquakes and other natural disasters and many other revered saints of God.

Father John told the pilgrims that in the St. Sophia Church there is the tomb of the elder saint, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), revered by the Orthodox people, the 50th anniversary of whose repose will be celebrated in 2025; and the first hierarch of the Turkestan diocese is buried on the territory - the ever-memorable Archbishop Zephaniah (Sokolsky), an ascetic of the faith and spiritual educator.

Members of one of the oldest Christian communities visited the church of the Alma-Ata Seminary in the name of the Blessed Matrona of Moscow, the chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the tomb chapel in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, and also examined the monastery residential buildings and utility rooms.

After the tour, Archbishop George Panamthundil and Bishop Samuel Mar Irenaeus thanked Metropolitan Alexander, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov and Priest John Livinsky for their hospitality and the time they spent. The Head of the Metropolitan District presented the pilgrims with memorable gifts.