The head of the Metropolitan District performed a funeral litany for the ever-memorable Archbishop Eleutherius (Kozorez)

June 4, 2024. Alma-Ata. In the Alexander Nevsky Chapel of the spiritual and cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed a funeral litany for the ever-memorable Archbishop Eleutherius (Kozorez).

The following people prayed at the funeral service: the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, the secretary of the Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Church and Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for the development of Russian church singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; heads of diocesan departments and commissions; employees of the Alma-Ata diocesan administration; Abbot of the Iversko-Seraphim Convent, Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), acting Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, head of the information and publishing department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; the head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), the head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, the head of the Metropolitan's protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Head of the Culture Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District L.E. Goricheva; employees of the Alma-Ata diocesan administration.

The men's choir of the Alma-Ata diocese sang.

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

At the end of the litany, the clergy and believers sang eternal memory.

“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 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.