Sebastian (Osokin) of Karaganda
His Grace Bishop Sebastian (Osokin) of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk is the ruling bishop of the Eparchy of Karaganda, which is one of the constituent dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church's Metropolia of Kazakhstan.
Life
Bishop Sebastian was born Alexander Valentinovich Osokin on 23 November 1961 in Perm, USSR. In 1984 he graduated from the Vladimir Polytechnical Institute with a degree in industrial and civil construction and went on to serve in the Armed Forces of the USSR until 1985. From 1986 he was active in Almaty's Holy Protection Church as a server, on 26 March 1989 being ordained a celibate deacon by Bishop Eusebius of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan. Twelve days later he was ordained to the holy priesthood.
After serving as the rector of various parishes in Kazakhstan, Fr. Alexander entered the theological seminary in Alma-Ata in 1995, completing his studies there in 1997. He then entered the Moscow Theological Seminary by correspondence, graduating from it in 2003 and entering the Moscow Theological Academy, where he completed his studies in 2009.
On 24 December 2010 the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Fr. Alexander as Bishop of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk. On 4 January 2011 Metropolitan Alexander of Astana tonsured Fr. Alexander with the name Sebastian after the Elder Sebastian of Karaganda. He was then elevated to the rank of archimandrite on 6 January.
On 20 February 2011 Archimandrite Sebastian was consecrated to the episcopacy in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral by Patriarch Cyril of Moscow and All Rus'.
External Link
- Bishop Sevastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk (Moscow Patriarchate)
