On the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the all-night vigil in the main church of Almaty

On the evening of August 18, 2024, on the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the all-night vigil in the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was assisted in the service in the main church of the southern capital by: the confessor of the Almaty diocese, Archimandrite John (Sazonov), the sacristan of the Ascension Cathedral, the head of the Metropolitan District's public relations department, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov and the cathedral clergy.

The chants were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District (choirmaster - Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, choirmaster - V. Dudareva) and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral (choirmaster - N. Zubrevich).

At the Great Vespers, according to the Church Charter, a litiya (intensified prayer) was performed with the blessing of bread, wine, wheat and oil.

At Matins, after reading the Gospel reading, Metropolitan Alexander addressed the worshipers with a sermon in which he spoke about the spiritual meaning and significance of the Transfiguration of the Savior for Orthodox Christians.

During the singing of the canon of the Transfiguration, the believers were anointed with consecrated oil.

On the day of the holiday itself, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Ascension Cathedral of the Southern capital. It begins at 8:30.