On the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the Head of the Metropolitan District held an all-night vigil in the main church of the southern capital

On January 6, 2024, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated an all-night vigil in the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was co-served by: the confessor of the Alma-Ata diocese, Archimandrite John (Sazonov) and the cathedral clergy.

In the main temple of the southern capital there was a shrine - a copy of the ark with the Gifts of the Magi, brought to Alma-Ata from the Athonite monastery of St. Paul.

According to the Church Charter, the vigil on Christmas Eve begins with Great Compline, at which the solemn song of the prophet Isaiah is sung: “God is with us, understand, O Gentiles, and repent, for God is with us!” Frequent repetition of the words “God is with us!” expresses the spiritual joy of believers about the coming into the world of the Savior Emmanuel, predicted by the prophets.

Compline ended with litia (intense prayer) and the consecration of bread, wine, wheat and oil (oil).

At Matins, after reading the conception of the Gospel of Matthew, which tells about the birth of the Divine Infant Christ from the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Head of the Metropolitan District addressed those gathered with an archpastoral sermon.

At Christmas morning, the canon of the Nativity of Christ was performed: “Christ is born - glorify!” Christ from heaven – come (meet)!” In the festive hymns of the all-night vigil, the Christmas hymns of the angels are often repeated: “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men!”

During the reading of the canon, Metropolitan Alexander anointed the believers venerating the icon of the feast with blessed oil.

After the end of the service, the choir of the Metropolitan District under the direction of the Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov performed one of the most famous Christmas songs in the world - “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the festive Christmas services in the Assumption Cathedral of Astana are led by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Administrator of the Metropolitan District.

The vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, performs Christmas services at the St. John the Theological Church in the city of Taldykorgan.
Vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, with the blessing of the Head of the Metropolitan District, leads festive services in the church in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Karasu microdistrict.

“Now every creation, the angelic council and the human race are filled with rejoicing over the Divine Child born in Bethlehem. The reason for the great joy of Heaven and earth was the incarnation: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Tim. 3:16). The Son of God came to earth to reconcile man with God, His life, suffering on the Cross and the glorious Resurrection from the dead to revive man for a new sinless life, for the eternal, blessed Kingdom. The psalmist David, prophetically contemplating in Old Testament times the coming of God the Word into the world, calls: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever!” (Ps. 118:1). How can we glorify God and give thanks to the Savior for all His ineffable blessings? The Lord tells us: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God wants and expects one thing from us - our salvation. The holiday of Christ’s appearance into the world is a special time when we should think about our relationship with God and our neighbors, answer the questions for ourselves: do I love my Heavenly Father “with all my heart and with all my mind, and with all my soul, and with all my strength” (Mark 12:33), do I treat the people around me like a Christian, have I learned to “forgive my brother who sins against me?” (Matt. 18:21). This world-saving Christmas night should motivate each of us to correct our lives according to the Gospel, open the way to the Kingdom of God, make us zealous in fulfilling the commandments and cheerful in prayer, teach us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn (Rom. 12:15). May the Born God-Infant Christ bless our people, the Holy Church, our Kazakhstan with peace, unity, prosperity, happiness and prosperity, and may he keep us all in good health “for progress and joy in the faith” (Phil. 1:25).” From the Christmas message of Metropolitan Alexander.