Karaganda, Kazakhstan, April 21, 2026
Photo: mitropolia.kz
The city of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, hosted celebrations on April 19, marking the 60th anniversary of the repose of St. Sebastian of Karaganda, the Heavenly patron of Kazakhstan.
The services were celebrated at Holy Trinity Cathedral of the “mining capital” of Kazakhstan and were led by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, joined by several bishops of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District, reports Patriarchia.ru.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a glorification of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and of Elder Sebastian. The Metropolitan pronounced “Christ is Risen” in multiple ancient and modern languages.
A pastoral message from Met. Alexander marking the anniversary was read aloud during the service. In it, he traces the life of St. Sebastian from his childhood in the Oryol Province, his first visit to the Optina Monastery at age four, and his eventual monastic vows there, to his arrest and seven years in Soviet labor camps, and finally his decision to remain in Karaganda after his release rather than return to Russia.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
On that decision, the Metropolitan quotes the saint directly: “Here will we live. The people here are warm-hearted, conscious, they have known suffering. We will be of more use here—this is our second homeland. I am staying.”
The letter describes three legacies left by the saint: the example of his virtuous life, his spiritual teachings and sermons, and his relics, which the faithful venerate at the Holy Trinity Cathedral built near the site of his ministry.
It closes with a quote from the saint that the Metropolitan presents as his testament to the faithful: “I ask only one thing of you all: live in peace. Peace and love are the most important things. If you have these among yourselves, you will always have joy in your soul.”
The occasion also coincided with the feast day of His Eminence Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk, as well as the 15th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Met. Alexander presented him with the Order For Diligent Service and gifted him a commemorative Panagia, holy prosphora, and flowers. Clergy of the Karaganda Diocese presented the Archbishop with a Feodorovskaya Theotokos icon.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
Children from the Sunday school of the Holy Trinity Cathedral performed Paschal hymns, and Metropolitan Alexander distributed treats to them afterward.
Following the service, the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful processed to the monument to Elder Sebastian on the cathedral square, where they laid flowers at his memorial. The Metropolitan and Archbishop also visited the upper church of the cathedral to inspect the final stages of its interior finishing work ahead of the consecration of one of its chapels.
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