Parish History

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Since 1999, Father Vasyl Hovera began traveling from Karaganda to Astana to celebrate divine services for the local Greek Catholics. The community prayed in the basement premises of the Roman Catholic church. The Greek Catholic parish in Karaganda established good relations with the Ukrainian gymnasium in Astana. For several years, children from Karaganda came to Astana with a St. Nicholas performance, while children from the Astana gymnasium prepared an Easter concert for the parishioners in Karaganda.

In February 2002, Father Rostyslav-Roman Maliarchuk arrived in Astana for permanent ministry. From that moment, regular and ongoing spiritual work began in the capital of Kazakhstan.

In August 2002, during his visit to Kazakhstan, His Beatitude Patriarch Lubomyr Husar blessed the cornerstone for the construction of a Greek Catholic church in Astana.

In September 2003, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate arrived in Astana. They began their ministry at the Apostolic Nunciature and also assisted the priest in his parish ministry.

Every summer, the parish organizes trips for spiritual meetings for children, young people, and middle-aged parishioners.

In 2004, the local authorities allocated land for the construction of a Greek Catholic church. In April of the same year, the Apostolic Delegate for Greek Catholics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Father Vasyl Hovera, blessed the site for the construction of the church in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan, Archbishop Józef Wesołowski, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Kazakhstan, Vasyl Tsybenko, and a large number of faithful of both the Byzantine and Latin rites.

Construction of the church began in 2004. In 2006, Father Stepan Uhryn became the parish administrator and continued both the pastoral work and the construction of the church. In 2009, Father Stepan left for studies in Rome and was succeeded by Father Oleh Zdrenyk, who completed the construction of the church in Astana.

On September 15, 2013, the Church of Saint Joseph the Betrothed was consecrated. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Bishop Yosyf Milian, Head of the Pastoral and Migration Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in the presence of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, and the Latin bishops of Kazakhstan.

From November 2013 to 2023, the parish priest was Father Andriy Stetsyk, who zealously and faithfully continued the ministry of this parish.

In November 2023, Father Ihor Svitovyi was appointed parish priest.

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Schedule of Divine Services:

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Monday

09:00    Divine Liturgy

18:00     Vespers.

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Tuesday

09:00    Divine Liturgy

18:00     Vespers.

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Wednesday

09:00    Divine Liturgy

18:00     Vespers.

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Thursday

09:00    Divine Liturgy

18:00     Vespers.

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Friday

09:00    Divine Liturgy

18:00     Vespers.

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Saturday

09:00     Divine Liturgy. Panakhyda — Memorial Service for the Departed.

18:00     Vespers.

 

Sunday

11:00      Divine Liturgy.

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Сontacts:

Greek Catholic Parish of Saint Joseph the Betrothed

Parish Priest: Fr. Ihor Svitovyi

2/2 Arasan Street

010000 Astana

Republic of Kazakhstan

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For correspondence:

2/2 Arasan Street, P.O. Box 622

010010 Astana

Republic of Kazakhstan

Mobile: +7 705 157 3452

E-mail: igorsvitovyj@gmail.com

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