The Kazan Cathedral in Almaty hosted the Children's Divine Liturgy, dedicated to the beginning of the school year

August 31, 2024 - the afterfeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the day of remembrance of the martyrs Florus and Laurus, the celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The All-Tsaritsa".

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the oldest church in the southern capital - the Cathedral in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

A special feature of the service was the participation of pupils of children's Sunday schools of the churches of the city of Almaty and the Almaty region.

His Eminence was co-served by: vicars of the Astana diocese - Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; Dean of the churches of Almaty, rector of the Nikolsky Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov, key-keeper of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya, rector of the Epiphany Church Archpriest Valery Shavrin, head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), key-keeper of the Kazan Cathedral of Almaty Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the protocol service of the Metropolitan Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon Konstantin Volnyagin, Deacon Ioann Churkin.

At the beginning of the service, an exact copy, “measure for measure”, of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Healer” was delivered to the oldest church of the Southern capital for prayerful worship and spiritual strengthening of the believers.

The chants were performed by the combined children's choir of the Sunday schools of the Southern capital under the direction of N. Golovina.

The following prayed at the Liturgy: the head of the public foundation "Apostol" G.G. Sosnovsky, teachers and pupils of Sunday schools, students of comprehensive schools and secular educational institutions of Almaty, parishioners of the church.

The sermon on the communion verse was delivered by Archpriest Valery Shavrin.

Numerous young participants in the service received the life-giving Mysteries of Christ.

The Liturgy ended with the glorification of the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, after which the Metropolitan delivered a sermon.

The head of the Orthodox Church performed a prayer service before the beginning of the new school year, after which he addressed the congregation with a parting word and gave the children and young people an archpastoral blessing.

In recognition of the work for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, an employee of the public foundation "Apostol" M.B. Kolmakov was awarded the Order of Enbek Ushin (For Labor).

At the end of the service, a festive concert for children was held in the Tales of the Peoples of Kazakhstan Park, located next to the Kazan Cathedral.

“I congratulate you on a special holiday that unites children and adults, teachers and educators, schoolchildren and students - on the Day of Knowledge and the beginning of a new academic year. School and student years can rightfully be called the best period of a person’s life, since this is the time of youth, the time of formation and intensive development of personality, the time of acquiring the basic knowledge necessary for subsequent professional and creative activity. At the same time, during this bright time, a young person must cultivate diligence and determination, learn to overcome laziness and other moral ailments. Young men and women are faced with the task of learning to respect their mentors and comrades and diligence in mastering the disciplines taught. In childhood and adolescence, people shape their relationships with God and people for decades to come, and determine the further course of their entire lives with their spiritual and moral choices, habits, actions, and words. “A man reaps what he sows” (Gal. 6:7), warns us in the Holy Scriptures. For centuries, the Orthodox Church has been serving as a teacher and blessing pedagogical activity. We begin each school year with a prayer to God for help to teachers in teaching, and to students in acquiring knowledge. On this festive day, I address teachers, students, and schoolchildren with good advice: to find success in your affairs and endeavors, never forget God, strive with all your heart to fulfill His commandments. The Old Testament prophet and psalmist David says: “Depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:15). When one ancient ascetic who lived in the 5th century, the Venerable Pimen the Great, was asked what one must do to become happy, he answered: “One must pray a lot, work a lot and do good to people.” I wish teachers, schoolchildren and students health, strength, help from the Lord and success in their work.” From the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.