"The mining capital" met the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow.

October 21, 2024. Karaganda. The relics of the holy blessed nun Matrona of Moscow, visiting Kazakhstan with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', arrived in the Karaganda diocese.

The relic was delivered by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Support for the delivery of the relics is provided by the Apostol public foundation headed by President G.G. Sosnovsky.

The visit is timed to coincide with historical dates - the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese, the upcoming 15th anniversary of the approval of the canonical status of the Metropolitan District and the celebration in honor of the day of remembrance of the Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda - the last Optina elder and heavenly patron of Kazakhstan.

At the airport, the Head of the Metropolitan District and the accompanying delegation were met by: Archbishop of Karaganda and Shakhty Sebastian, Secretary of the Karaganda Diocesan Administration Archpriest Dimitry Patrikeyev.

From the airport, the ark with the relics of Blessed Matrona was transported to the Trinity-Sevastian Cathedral, where the revered shrine was met by clergy and numerous believers.

With the singing of the troparion to the righteous "God-wise blessed nun Matrona", the relics were brought under the vaults of the cathedral and installed in the center of the church.

The Head of the Metropolitan District led a prayer service, at which prayed: Archbishop of Karaganda and Shakhty Sebastian, Vicar of the Astana Diocese Bishop of Taldykorgan Claudian, Bishop of Chimkent and Turkestan Chrysanthus; Rector of the Almaty Church in Honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Mitred Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Secretary of the Karaganda Diocesan Administration Archpriest Dmitry Patrikeyev, Dean of the Abay Church District Archpriest Vladimir Freygang, Deans of church districts Archpriest Alexander Ugolkov, Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov, Acting Dean of the Talgar Church District, Rector of the St. Nicholas Church in Talgar Priest Kirill Freygang; rectors of churches and clergy of the Karaganda Diocese; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan's protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon John Churkin, Deacon Rustik Yakubov.

After the service, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those gathered on the significant event - the bringing of the relics of the blessed nun Matrona to the "the mining capital".

Then the worship of the relics by the believers began. Throughout the entire time of the stay of the relics of the saint of Christ in the Trinity-Sevastianovsky Cathedral, prayers with akathists to the saint will be held.

On October 22, in celebration of the discovery of the relics of the holy confessor Schema-Archimandrite Sebastian of Karaganda, the Head of the Metropolitan District will lead the festive Divine Liturgy in the church of the same name.

The shrine will be in the Karaganda diocese from October 21 to 24.