On the day of memory of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Metropolitan Alexander celebrated the Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

December 13, 2023 is the day of remembrance of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

His Eminence was served by: vicars of the Astana diocese - the manager of the affairs of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar; dean of the parishes of Almaty, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; dean of the Astana church district Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), rector of the temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, confessor of the Alma-Ata diocese Archimandrite John (Sazonov), Archimandrite Gabriel (Tutberidze), cleric of the Ascension Cathedral of the Southern capital Archpriest Alexander Ievlev, keymaster of the Assumption Cathedral in Astana, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek, keymaster of the Constantine-Elenin Cathedral, Archpriest Sergiy Kaliev, dean of the Ili church district, Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, Archpriest Dimitry Sidorov, head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Deacon Andrey Pleten, Hierodeacon Zephaniah (Mazurenko), Deacon Alexander Piven, Deacon Sergiy Slesarchuk.

In the main temple of the southern capital, for the spiritual consolation and strengthening of believers, there was a shrine - an ark with the relics of the apostles of Christ. The precious reliquary became a gift to the Ascension Cathedral and all Orthodox Kazakhstanis on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ and the anniversary date - the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolitan District in Kazakhstan.

The chants were performed by the male choir of the Alma-Ata diocese under the direction of Abbot Philip (Moiseev).

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan made a prayer for the restoration and strengthening of peace.

The sermon on the sacramental verse was delivered by Archpriest Dimitry Baidek.

The liturgy ended with the glorification of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called in front of the ark with the relics of Christ's disciples.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and laity on the day of the first disciple of Christ and delivered a sermon.

“The Feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew, called the First-Called, reminds every Orthodox Christian of the call to apostolic service, of the need to follow Christ until the end of his days. All of us - archpastors and pastors, monastics and laity - must be disciples of the Savior and heralds of the Gospel truth, not only in name, but in essence. As continuers of the apostolic work, we have a special responsibility before God not only for the salvation of our own souls, but we are also responsible before the Creator for our family and friends. Through prayer, kind words of exhortation and the example of living according to the commandments of the Lord, we can and must contribute to the salvation of those who walk next to us along the path of life.” From the words of Metropolitan Alexander on the day of memory of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

At the end of the service, the cleric of the Kutaisi-Gaenat diocese, Archpriest Zenon Khakhaleishvili, with the blessing of His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, handed over to the Metropolitan the icon of the great Georgian ascetic of the second half of the 20th century, St. Gabriel (Urgebadze). His Eminence said words of gratitude to Father Zenon and, in his person, to the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, noting the significance of the sacred gift for the spiritual strengthening and support of believers in Kazakhstan. Earlier, with the blessing of Patriarch-Catholicos of All Georgia Ilia II, the relics of Elder Gabriel were transferred to the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. The location of the icon and relics will be the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.