The clergy and parishioners of the churches of the Kazakh metropolitan district of the Russian Orthodox Church did not suffer during the riots in Alma-Ata, the head of the information department of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and its press secretary, Archpriest Yevgeny Ivanov, told RIA Novosti.

According to the press secretary of the diocese, Yevgeny Ivanov, up to 400 thousand Orthodox believers can live in Alma-Ata with a population of two million, and the common holiday of the Nativity of Christ in the city is celebrated not only by the Slavs.

“Fortunately, on the 7th, on Christmas Day, however, in the daytime, liturgy and festive services were held in Alma-Ata and in all churches of Kazakhstan. Of course, there were few people, and only those who lived within walking distance went since the situation was rather difficult. 5 and 6 were very tense, as well as 7, but, despite the difficult situation, the divine services still took place, “summed up Ivanov.

Christmas services on the night of January 7 in Almaty were canceled due to the curfew and postponed to 10:00 on January 7 local time.