In the Adrian-Natalievsky Church in the village of Otegen Batyr, they prayerfully honored the memory of the heavenly patrons of Kazakhstan - the holy martyrs Seraphim and Theognost of Alma-Ata (+ VIDEO)

August 11, 2024 - the 7th week after Pentecost; the day of remembrance of the heavenly patrons of Alma-Ata and all of Kazakhstan - the holy martyrs hieromonks Seraphim (Bogoslovsky) and Theognost (Pivovarov); the celebration of the Nativity of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia in the village of Otegen Batyr in the suburbs of the southern capital, a metochion of the Chimkent and Turkestan diocese.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was assisted by: Bishop Chrysanthus of Chimkent and Turkestan; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Dean of the churches of Almaty, rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; Rector of the Epiphany Church, Archpriest Valery Shavrin; Dean of the Ili Church District, Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov; Rector of the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kaskelen, Archpriest Pavel Pridatchenko; Head of the Metropolitan's Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Sacristan of the Adriano-Nataliev Church, Priest John Konoplev; Head of the Metropolitan's Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Deacon Alexander Piven.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, great relics were brought to the Liturgy for the prayerful veneration of the faithful - reliquaries with the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the holy martyrs Seraphim and Theognost.

The choir of the Adriano-Natalievskaya Church sang under the direction of nun Darya (Konoplyova).

The following prayed during the service: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; employees of the Almaty diocesan administration; parishioners of the Adriano-Natalievskaya Church.

The sermon before communion was delivered by Archpriest Valery Shavrin.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a glorification of the holy martyrs Seraphim and Theognost and St. Nicholas was performed before the reliquaries with the honorable relics of the saints of God.

The head of the Metropolitan District addressed the parishioners with a word of edification and gave the worshipers an altar cross to kiss.

“When we talk about the exploits of the new martyrs and confessors, we understand that it was incomparably harder for them than for us. Today, no one threatens death, torture, prison, or exile for faith in Christ. But the tragedy is that now, without any coercion, some people stop living a spiritual life, renounce their faith. Others attack the Church in which they were baptized and raised with malicious attacks, meticulously find existing shortcomings, and more often - simply 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” (see Matthew 24:12). Indeed, this holy feeling towards both God and one’s neighbor is waning in people. What can save our society from all these temptations and delusions? Of course, strong faith, the memory of the new martyrs and confessors, who did not renounce God even under the threat of death, did not leave the saving church fence. They went to God, their names are already part of history, but this entire host of sufferers lives and continues to carry out their high mission. The new martyrs and confessors have become sources of blessed light for our people, the glory and adornment of the Church." From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.