On 25 September 2020, the day of the leave-taking of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and of the commemoration of the translation of the relics of Holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the main church of the Diocese of Tashkent, the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The service was led by Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District. This was the first hierarchal service in the cathedral since the quarantine measures were eased and parishioners were allowed to attend services in churches, observing the necessary precautions.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were Priest Vitaly Golban, Hieromonk Mikhail, Deacon Rustik Kovalev and Deacon Grigory Khimonidi.
At the end of the Liturgy Metropolitan Vikenty addressed the faithful with his archpastoral word, speaking of the labours and struggles of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye.
"We should note this particular feature of his life: desiring to be counted worthy of eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven, and having come to love Christ the Saviour, he began to withdraw from everything this world offers: pleasures, delights and every kind of comfort. He took upon himself the struggle of renouncing all this, because through this renunciation one is counted worthy of greater gifts, joy, delight and comfort in the Kingdom of God.
Truly, in the Kingdom of God there is greater, ineffable joy, which cannot be compared with our earthly joy. There are blessings and delights there that cannot be compared with any earthly pleasures and comforts.
Therefore he came to know this special mystery of God, and he so loved this world of the Kingdom of Christ that he resolved to renounce everything comfortable and joyful that there is in this world."
In his sermon His Eminence also noted that the Dormition Cathedral has an icon with a particle of the relics of Holy Righteous Simeon, and called on the parishioners to come, venerate this holy object, pray, and receive grace-filled help from this saint of God in all their needs and sorrows.
