KAZAKHSTAN: October 14, 2019
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God at Almaty's St Sophia Cathedral during night-time Liturgy

On the night of October 10-11, 2019, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan officiated at Divine Liturgy at St Sophia Cathedral in Almay, Kazakhstan, which concluded with the arrival of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign." He was joined by a number of hierarchs, including His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Also serving were Protopriest Alexandre Antchoutine, and other clergymen.

A great multitude of worshiper came to bid farewell to the greatest holy image of the Russian diaspora.
During the augmented litany, special prayers were intoned for the unity of Holy Orthodoxy, the preservation of the Church from division and schism and for peace in Ukraine.

The services ended with a moleben before the Kursk-Root Icon and the blessing of an exact painted copy for the cathedral. Many Years was sung to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Primate and hierarcy of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the nation's leade Nursultan Nazarbaev and the authorities, armed forces and people of the nation.

Vladyka Nicholas and his clergymen, including Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur, were given awards by the Kazakhstan Metropoliate. The Kursk-Root Icon the departed to its main residence in New York City.