On October 6, 2026, the miraculous relics of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt ended their stay in Alma Ata, the southern capital of Kazakhstan.
The great shrine of the Christian world, located within the boundaries of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan Area with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, was located in the St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iversko-Serafimovsky Convent.
The bringing of the relics of the Archpastor of Trimifunt is carried out thanks to the support of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation, headed by President V.M. Kapsamun.
Every day, from early morning until late at night, the pilgrims came in an endless stream with supplications to the great saint of God, wanting to receive spiritual comfort and strengthening. Over 65,000 people worshiped the miraculous shrine. Among the pilgrims were guests from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
The protection of the shrine and order in St. Sophia Cathedral and on the territory of the monastery were provided by the Cossacks of the Union of Cossacks of Semirechye.
On October 3 and 4, spiritual celebrations were held in the main church of the monastery on the occasion of the offering of the relics of St. Spyridon. The festive divine services were performed by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, co-served by the vicars of the Astana diocese and the city clergy. During the celebrations, a new shrine was handed over to the head of the Metropolitan District — a wooden ark with part of the veil from the tomb of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, intended to store his venerable relics.
On October 6, at the spiritual and Cultural center of the Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Alexander honored representatives of the Greek delegation with the Order of "Yntaly Kyzmet Ushin" ("For Diligent Service").
Late in the evening, after the final prayer service, the relics of St. Spyridon left the Southern capital of Kazakhstan and headed for the city of Baikonur.
The Great shrine of Orthodoxy is accompanied on the pilgrimage by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation O.N. Ovchinnikov, head of the administrative secretariat of the head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov, head of the Metropolitan protocol service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, representatives of the Kerkyra Metropolitan Archdiocese, led by protopresbyters Evangelos Koutras and Thomas Kostamonitis.
The miraculous relics of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt have been visiting the borders of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan Area since September 21. The shrine visited seven major cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Karaganda, Uralsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Astana, Petropavlovsk, Kostanay and Alma Ata. In total, over 175 thousand people worshiped the relics of the Wonderworker of Trimifunt in 16 days.