The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan performed an all-night vigil on the feast of Epiphany in the main church of the southern capital

On January 18, 2024, on the eve of Holy Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated a festive all-night vigil in the Ascension Cathedral of Almaty.

The head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan was co-served by the clergy of the Ascension Cathedral.

The chants of the festive service were performed by the choir of the Metropolitan District under the direction of the Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov and the choir of the Ascension Cathedral under the direction of N. Zubrevich.

According to the Church Charter, the vigil on the eve of Epiphany is performed in the likeness of the Christmas service. The service begins with Great Compline, at which the solemn song of the prophet Isaiah is sung: “God is with us, understand people and repent, for God is with us!” Compline ends with litia (intense prayer) and the consecration of bread, wine, wheat and oil.

At Matins, after reading the Gospel conception, which tells about the Baptism of Christ in the waters of the Jordan River from St. John the Baptist, Metropolitan Alexander addressed the believers with an archpastoral word.

At Matins, during the execution of the canon of Epiphany “He opened the bottom of the depths,” the Metropolitan anointed the clergy and parishioners venerating the icon of the Baptism of the Lord with blessed oil.

On the night of January 19, the feast of the Epiphany, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan will perform the early Divine Liturgy with the rite of the great consecration of water in the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.