Celebration of Epiphany in Astana. More than 15,000 people took part in Epiphany bathing in the Kazakh capital

January 18-19, 2024. Astana. The dean of the parishes of the capital, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), led the services of the Epiphany holiday in the churches of the Astana church district.а.

On the eve of Epiphany, the shepherd celebrated an all-night vigil in the Assumption Cathedral.

On the very day of the twelfth celebration, January 19, Archimandrite Sergius celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral.

The clergy of the main temple of Kazakhstan served with the dean.

The choir of the Assumption Cathedral sang under the direction of O. Varentsova.

Following the prayer behind the pulpit, the clergy went to the center of the temple and performed the great blessing of water.

The shepherd sprinkled those gathered with the great hagiasma, after which glorification of the feast of the Epiphany took place.

At the end of the Liturgy, Archimandrite Sergius addressed the worshipers with a sermon.

At the end of the service, a religious procession took place from the temple to the Ishim River to consecrate the water in the Jordan (an ice hole specially prepared on the feast of the Epiphany).

The sacred procession, which was led by the dean’s father, was attended by the clergy of the Astana deanery, parishioners of city churches and residents of the capital.

Near the prepared ice-hole, the shepherd performed prayers for the consecration of the watery nature, after which, while singing the troparion of the holiday, he immersed the holy cross in the water three times. Then the clergy sprinkled consecrated water on the participants in the service.

After this, swimming was organized for numerous people on the Ishim River in Jordan.

Assistance in organizing the religious procession and traditional immersion in the baptismal font was provided by the akimat of Astana and the department of internal affairs of the capital.

More than 15,000 people took part in Epiphany bathing in the Kazakh capital.