The abbess of the Astanai Monastery in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”, Abbess Raphael (Vasilenko), reposed in the Lord

February 4, 2024. At the age of 89, the abbess of the convent of the city of Astana in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”, Abbess Raphael (Vasilenko), reposed in the Lord.

For half a century, the deceased mother carried out church labors on Kazakhstani soil. Her spiritual father and mentor was the ever-memorable confessor of the faith, Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin).

She diligently fulfilled the obediences assigned by the clergy, devoted her strength and talents to serving God and her neighbors; She was distinguished by hard work, piety, a responsible attitude to her duties, love for the nuns of the monastery, parishioners and pilgrims, and a sincere desire to work for the good of the Holy Church.

The place and time of the funeral service will be announced additionally.

Abbess Rafaila (in the world - Antonina Ivanovna Vasilenko) was born on June 12, 1935 in the village of Tubanaevka, Nizhny Novgorod region.

During the war, she worked to provide the front with agricultural products. In 1953 she was sent to work in Kazakhstan in the village of Nikolaevka, Pavlodar region. Over the next 20 years she worked as a primary school teacher. In 1975, she moved to the city of Tselinograd (now Astana) and began working in the parish community of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena.

In August 1977, Antonina Ivanovna was tonsured a monk with the name Raphael, in honor of the Archangel Raphael, the healer of human ailments. On March 5, 1978, she took monastic vows, with the same name, at the hands of the famous ascetic of piety and confessor of the faith, Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin). Nun Raphaila became an active member of the monastic community, performed various church obediences, worked as a psalm-reader and led the choir, took part in the construction of the monastery church in honor of the blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky and the sister corps and in repair and restoration work in the Constantine-Eleninsky Cathedral, prepared the necessary documents for community registration.

In 1999, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, she was appointed abbess of the monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.”

For almost a quarter of a century, Abbess Raphael led the monastery. Thanks to her activities, the monastery “Recovery of the Dead” became one of the significant spiritual centers of the capital of Kazakhstan, conducting active educational and charitable activities. Mother carried out her monastic work with a burning heart, preserved and passed on the traditions of monastic life, adopted from the monastics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The works of the deceased were marked by high church and state awards.