Celebration of the Nativity of Christ in the dioceses of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan

Shymkent diocese

On the night of January 6 to 7, 2024, Bishop Chrysanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan celebrated an all-night vigil and night Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Shymkent.

His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the cathedral: Archpriest Alexander Mogilevsky, Archpriest Evgeny Glushchenko, Hieromonk Dimitry (Pavlenko), Priest Ilya Markov, Protodeacon Alexy Gorobchenko, Deacon John Abakuk, Hierodeacon Simeon (Yun).

At the end of the service, the archpastor congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and delivered a sermon.

On January 7, 2024, with the blessing of Bishop Chrysanthos, with the support of the Slavic Ethno-Cultural Association and the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a concert dedicated to the Nativity of Christ took place in the large hall of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

The concert program included Christmas songs and carols, vocal and instrumental music, and dance numbers.

Ural diocese

On January 7, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, the bishop led the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the city of Uralsk, which celebrated the patronal feast day on that day.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the city of Uralsk, Archpriest Anatoly Robu, Archpriest Anatoly Sedov, Archpriest Vasily Kroitor, Deacon John Roshka, cleric of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in the city of Uralsk, Deacon Artemy Rybalchenko.

At the end of the Liturgy, a procession of the cross took place.

His Eminence congratulated the rector, clergy and parishioners on the Nativity of Christ and the patronal feast day and gave the archpastoral blessing.

On January 10, a Christmas concert took place at the Drama Theater named after A. N. Ostrovsky in the city of Uralsk.
The festive program included Christmas carols, spiritual works by famous composers, folk songs, instrumental music, as well as dance and theater performances. Bright numbers were prepared by parish choirs, folk ensembles, students of Sunday and music schools of the city, theater artists and the city orchestra of Russian folk instruments.

Peter and Paul Diocese

On the night of January 6-7, the secretary of the diocesan administration, Archpriest Sergius Pervushin, celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the main church of Northern Kazakhstan - the Ascension Cathedral of Petropavlovsk.

Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevsk prayed during the service.

Using the communion verse, Priest Maxim Abdulkhasanov read out the Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

On January 7, the day of the triumph of the appearance of the Divine Infant Christ into the world, a bishop's Christmas tree was held at the regional drama theater named after N. Pogodin, the participants of which were pupils of Sunday schools, as well as children of parishioners.

The program of the festive concert included performances by children's choirs, theatrical performances, literary and musical performances.

In the evening of the same day, a great vesper took place in the Ascension Cathedral of the city of Petropavlovsk with the participation of all the city clergy, led by Archbishop Vladimir.

After the proclamation of the great prokeme, “Who is the great God, even as we are our God,” the hierarch read the festive Gospel Conception.

After the reading of the Holy Gospel, the secretary of the diocesan administration, Archpriest Sergius Pervushin, read out the Christmas message of Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaev to the priests, deacons, monastics and laity of Northern Kazakhstan.

The service ended with glorification of the holiday.

His Eminence addressed the clergy and Orthodox townspeople with an archpastoral speech, in which he congratulated everyone on the triumph of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ and delivered a sermon in which he called on believers to be worthy of the Savior who came into the world.

Ust-Kamenogorsk diocese

On January 6, on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk celebrated the Divine Liturgy and Great Vesper at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

At the end of the service, the troparion and kontakion of the holiday were sung in front of the candle marking the Star of Bethlehem. At the end of the service, the bishop congratulated the clergy and laity on the upcoming Christmas.

On the night of January 6-7, the archpastor celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the main church of the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk.

On the evening of January 7, Bishop Amphilohiy led the service of the festive Great Vesper in St. Andrew's Cathedral in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk.

At the end of Vesper, Hieromonk Silouan (Magilev) read out the Christmas message of Archbishop Amphilochius.

At the end of the evening service, Bishop Amphilohiy, according to tradition, accepted congratulations on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ from the clergy and laity.

On January 8, the day of the after-feast of the Nativity of Christ and the feast of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archbishop Amphilochius celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Intercession in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Parishioners and pilgrims of the temple prayed during the festive service.

The chants of the Nativity of Christ and the Liturgy were performed by the parish choir under the direction of regent A. Korol. Before the communion of the laity, Hieromonk Methodius (Shevchuk) read out the Christmas message of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

After the prayer behind the pulpit, Archbishop Amphilochius with the clergy and parishioners sang the praises of the Infant Christ and His Most Pure Mother, then the bishop congratulated those gathered on the great holiday of Christmas and delivered archpastoral instructions.

At the end of the Liturgy, in consideration of many years of work for the benefit of the Ust-Kamenogorsk diocese and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, Archbishop Amfilohiy awarded the ex-secretary of the East Kazakhstan regional maslikhat V. M. Golovatyuk with the Order “For Services to the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan” "

Pavlodar diocese

On the night of January 6-7, on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Archbishop of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz Varnava performed an all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Pavlodar.

At the Liturgy, after reading the festive beginning of the Gospel, the secretary of the diocesan administration of the Pavlodar diocese, Archpriest Alexy Stepanov, read out the Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', according to the communion verse, Priest Alexy Gmyza read out the Christmas message of Archbishop of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz Varnava.

At the end of the service, glorification took place before the icon of the Nativity of Christ, after that His Eminence addressed the parishioners with a congratulatory word.

On the evening of January 7, Bishop Varnava led the service of the festive Great Vesper in the Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Pavlodar.

At the end of the service, the archpastor addressed those gathered with an archpastoral word.

On January 8, Archbishop Varnava celebrated the Liturgy at the Nativity Cathedral of Pavlodar.

At the end of the service, the hierarch congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the patronal holiday and addressed those gathered with a sermon.

The students of the church's Sunday school congratulated the archpastor and everyone present with poems and chants, also received gifts from the bishop.

Karaganda diocese

On the night of January 6-7, Archbishop Sevastian of Karaganda and Shakhty celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy at the Vvedensky Cathedral in the city of Karaganda.

According to the communion verse, the Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, was read out.

At the end of the service, glorification took place before the icon of the Nativity of Christ, after that His Eminence addressed the parishioners with a congratulatory word.

In the afternoon, the traditional diocesan Christmas concert took place in the assembly hall of the Vvedensky Church, in which diocesan clergy, Sunday school students, and Orthodox residents of the city took part.

The event program included performances by children's choirs, theatrical performances and literary and musical performances.

At the end of the concert, the bishop thanked all participants and awarded certificates of gratitude to the organizers and artists. Then, on the cathedral square, everyone was offered a festive meal, competitions and games were held for children and adults.

On the evening of the same day, Archbishop Sebastian led the service of Great Vesper in the Vvedensky Cathedral.

At the end of the service, the Christmas message of the diocese administrator was read out.

The archpastor congratulated those present on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and wished that the one now born in Bethlehem would grant everyone peace, goodness and love to each other.

Kokshetau diocese

On January 6, on Christmas Eve, Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and Great Vesper in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the city of Kokshetau, co-served by the clergy of the cathedral.

At the end of the service, the clergy, in front of the festive icon and the Christmas candle marking the Star of Bethlehem, performed glorification, singing the troparion and kontakion to the Nativity of Christ.

On the night of January 6-7, on the day of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Archbishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola led the all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy of Basil the Great in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the city of Kokshetau.

Using the sacramental verse, Deacon Uar Zhazitov read out the Christmas message of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, Priest Valery Anferov read out the Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

At the end of the service, the clergy sang the troparion, kontakion and magnification of the feast of the Nativity of Christ before the festive icon.

His Eminence addressed the clergy and parishioners with a sermon and Christmas greetings.

Kostanay diocese

On the evening of January 6, the all-night vigil in the main church of the diocese, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, was led by the secretary of the Kostanay diocese, Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), co-served by the cathedral clergy.

On the night of January 6-7, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Divine Liturgy in the Constantine-Elenin Cathedral of the city of Kostanay was led by the secretary of the Kostanay diocese, Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), co-served by the clergy of the cathedral.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, glorification of the feast of the Nativity of Christ took place.

On January 8, on the after-feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Divine Liturgy in the St. John the Theological Cathedral of the city of Rudny was led by the secretary of the Kostanay diocese, Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), co-served by the clergy of the cathedral.

At the end of the Liturgy, glorification was performed before the icon of the Nativity, after which the secretary of the diocese addressed the parishioners with a sermon and presented diocesan tokens of attention to the cathedral employees celebrating anniversaries.

Aktobe diocese

On January 7, on the day of the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda led the Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Aktobe.

In the afternoon, a children's Christmas party was held at the Sunday school at the main church.

Bishop of Aktobe and Kyzylorda Ignatius opened the event with a welcoming speech.

Pupils of the Sunday school performed before the audience and showed creative performances.

On January 8, on the feast of the Council of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda led the Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir in the city of Aktobe.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were: acting Dean of the Churches of the Aktobe Church District Hieromonk Cyprian (Dakhno), rector of the Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir Archpriest Dimitry Solovyov, rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God in the village of Martuk Priest Vladimir Voloshchuk, secretary of the Aktobe Diocese Deacon Boris Fateev, cleric of the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the city of Aktobe deacon Roman Saitiev.

At the end of the service, Bishop Ignatius addressed the parishioners with an archpastoral word.