The head of the Metropolitan District performed a litany at the resting place of the ever-memorable Archbishop Eleutherius (Kozorez)

May 22, 2024. Chimkent. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, at the end of the Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the capital of Southern Kazakhstan, performed a memorial service for the ever-memorable hierarch, buried at the altar of the temple.

Praying at the funeral service were: the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, the rector of the Alma-Ata Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, the rector of the Cosmo-Damian Church of Alma-Ata Archpriest Georgy Chistyakov, the head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan, Hieromonk Prokhor ( Endovitsky), keymaster 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 Alexander Piven, Deacon Bogdan Boyko, spiritual children of the deceased, parishioners of city churches.

The choir of St. Nicholas Cathedral sang under the direction of E.V. Aleshina.

At the end of the funeral service, the clergy and believers sang eternal memory. Flowers were laid at the burial site.

Metropolitan Alexander addressed those present with a word in which he remembered with gratitude the works of the blessed bishop.

“For more than thirty years, the deceased saint bore the cross of apostolic service to the Church of Christ, carrying out various works with love and zeal, “proclaiming the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19), showing active concern for the growth in the faith of Christ of the flock entrusted to his care. He became a witness and an active participant in the revival and development of church life in the blessed land of Kazakhstan after the fall of the icy shackles of atheism. In those distant years, the newly ordained archpastor directed all his talents and strength, energy and knowledge to the organization of church life in Southern and Northern Kazakhstan and in the central regions of the country. The Bishop restored desecrated shrines, opened new parishes, initiated the development of charitable, educational and youth ministries, and conducted a dialogue with government officials and leaders of traditional faiths. With his activities, he prepared these regions for the creation of new dioceses of the Metropolitan District: Kostanay, Petropavlovsk, Kokshetau and Karaganda. Always, according to the words of the apostle, Archbishop Eleutherius strived to be “an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). The late saint will remain in our memory as a modest, sensitive and kind man who sought to support everyone who turned to him for help and consolation.” From the words of Metropolitan Alexander in memory of Archbishop Eleutherius.