The service of the vicars of the Astana diocese during the celebration of Epiphany

January 19, 2024. Alma-Ata. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, the vicars of the Astana diocese performed divine services in the churches of the southern capital.

Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Administrator of the Affairs of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, celebrated the Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Vice-Rector for Educational Work, Priest John Livinsky, Deputy Chairman of the Diocesan Commission for Social Ministry, Priest Vyacheslav Isikov, Hierodeacon Afanasy (Kozel) and Deacon Alexander Voronin.

Liturgical chants were performed by the choir of St. Nicholas Cathedral under the direction of O. Berekesheva.

At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Gennady, co-served by the clergy, performed the rite of the great consecration of water.

After sprinkling the temple and worshipers with the great hagiasma, the clergy and singers performed the troparion and kontakion of the holiday in front of the icon of Baptism.

At the end of the service, the archpastor congratulated the clergy and believers on the feast of Epiphany and addressed those gathered with a word of teaching.

The night before, the hierarch celebrated an all-night vigil with litia in St. Nicholas Cathedral.

On the night of January 18-19, the vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, celebrated the Liturgy at the representative office of the Taldykorgan vicariate - the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Alatau microdistrict of the city of Almaty.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were: Archimandrite Gabriel (Tutberidze), Archpriest Vladimir Glukhikh, Priest Nikolai Matlashov, Hierodeacon Veniamin (Vdovin), Deacon Grigory Levchenko, Deacon Rustik Yakupov.

The choir of the Annunciation Church sang under the direction of A. Averyanova.

Praying during the service were Orthodox residents of the Alatau microdistrict and believers from surrounding settlements.

At the end of the Liturgy, while singing the troparia “The Voice of the Lord on the Waters...”, Bishop Claudian and the concelebrating clergy went to the center of the temple and performed the rite of the great consecration of the water.

At the end of the service, Bishop Claudian congratulated the worshipers on the feast of the Epiphany and delivered a sermon.

The night before, the archpastor celebrated an all-night vigil with litia in the Annunciation Church.

The vicar of the Astana diocese, Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Karasu microdistrict of the city of Almaty.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the clergyman of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Priest Roman Burdukov, Hieromonk Levkiy (Ershov), Deacon Pavel Kornienko and Deacon Alexy Kanushin.

The chants of the Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross under the direction of N. Burdukova.

The Hierarch offered prayers for the increase of love and the eradication of all hatred and malice.

According to the sacramental verse, the archpastor congratulated the parishioners and clergy on the feast of Epiphany and delivered a sermon.

After the prayer behind the pulpit, Bishop Benjamin and the concelebrating clergy went out to the “Jordan” and performed the rite of the great consecration of the water.

The night before, His Eminence celebrated an all-night vigil with litia in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.