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His Eminence '''Eleutherius (Kozorez)''' (Russian: Елевферий Козорез; 17 September 1953 – 4 June 2021) was [[Eparchy of Shymkent|Archbishop of Shymkent and Akmola]] in [[Metropolia of Kazakhstan|Kazakhstan]]. Archbishop Eleutherius was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Shymkent from 1991 to his repose as victim of the Great Pandemic in 2021.
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His Eminence '''Eleutherius (Kozorez)''' (Russian: Елевферий Козорез; 17 September 1953 – 4 June 2021) was [[Eparchy of Shymkent|Archbishop of Shymkent and Taraz]] in [[Metropolia of Kazakhstan|Kazakhstan]]. Archbishop Eleutherius was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Shymkent from 1991 to his repose as victim of the Great Pandemic in 2021. His Eminence's [[name day]] was [[August 4]] for Saint Eleutherius the Cubicularius.
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
 
Yuri Feofanovich Kozorez (George) was born on [[September 17]], 1953 into a peasant family in the rural village of Obariv, near Rivne in [[Church of Ukraine|Ukraine]]. George graduated high school in 1970, when he was 14 years old. During this time, he served the Church with [[minor orders]]. In the following years, George went to Moscow in order to join the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Seminary]], from which he graduated in 1979. He remained there as a post-graduate student, receiving his Degree in Theology in 1984 from the Moscow Theological Academy. In 1985, George moved to the [[Eparchy of Astana|Eparchy of Almaty]] in Kazakhstan, serving under the newly-elected Bishop Eusebius (Savvin) of Almaty (1984–1990; now Metropolitan of Pskov), who had also come from Moscow.
 
Yuri Feofanovich Kozorez (George) was born on [[September 17]], 1953 into a peasant family in the rural village of Obariv, near Rivne in [[Church of Ukraine|Ukraine]]. George graduated high school in 1970, when he was 14 years old. During this time, he served the Church with [[minor orders]]. In the following years, George went to Moscow in order to join the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Seminary]], from which he graduated in 1979. He remained there as a post-graduate student, receiving his Degree in Theology in 1984 from the Moscow Theological Academy. In 1985, George moved to the [[Eparchy of Astana|Eparchy of Almaty]] in Kazakhstan, serving under the newly-elected Bishop Eusebius (Savvin) of Almaty (1984–1990; now Metropolitan of Pskov), who had also come from Moscow.
  
On [[April 13]], 1985, Bishop Eusebius [[ordination|ordained]] George a [[deacon]] at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Almaty. <small>([https://www.google.com/maps/place/@43.2485241,76.9281389,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipN-hA1djmu_dz3v6s8YTbFSNC-VvsuC_SKBVpZx!2e10!3e0!4s!1i0!1i0!4m5!3m1!1s0x0:0x5d92088f2c8c2fca!7m0!1d0!1d0 see photos])</small> Deacon George was ordained into [[Priest|Holy Priesthood]] by the same bishop on [[September 17]], being entrusted as [[Proistamenos|rector]] to the cathedral. Father George left the cathedral in 1986 to be made rector of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, <small>([https://www.google.com/maps/place/@42.3100689,69.6188422,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNAo9OIXd6RzqIIRTBq1aw9TmYWdvxwEBbN5RMy!2e10!3e0!4s!1i0!1i0!4m5!3m1!1s0x0:0xdfb024344d91fc9!7m0!1d0!1d0 see photos])</small> as well as [[dean]] to the churches located in Turkistan (where Shymkent is) and Kyzylorda. On [[March 26]], 1987, Father George was tonsured into [[monasticism]] receiving the name of Eleutherius. In 1988, Hieromonk Eleutherius was elevated to the rank of [[hegumen]].
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On [[April 13]], 1985, Bishop Eusebius [[ordination|ordained]] George a [[deacon]] at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Almaty. <small>([https://www.google.com/maps/place/@43.2485241,76.9281389,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipN-hA1djmu_dz3v6s8YTbFSNC-VvsuC_SKBVpZx!2e10!3e0!4s!1i0!1i0!4m5!3m1!1s0x0:0x5d92088f2c8c2fca!7m0!1d0!1d0 see photos])</small> Deacon George was ordained into [[Priest|Holy Priesthood]] by the same bishop on [[September 17]], being entrusted as [[Proistamenos|rector]] to the cathedral. Father George left the cathedral in 1986 to be made rector of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, <small>([https://www.google.com/maps/place/@42.3100689,69.6188422,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNAo9OIXd6RzqIIRTBq1aw9TmYWdvxwEBbN5RMy!2e10!3e0!4s!1i0!1i0!4m5!3m1!1s0x0:0xdfb024344d91fc9!7m0!1d0!1d0 see photos])</small> as well as [[dean]] to the churches located in Turkistan (where Shymkent is) and Kyzylorda. On [[March 26]], 1987, Father George was tonsured into [[monasticism]] receiving Saint Eleutherius the Cubicularius as his patron saint. In 1988, Hieromonk Eleutherius was elevated to the rank of [[hegumen]]. Hegumen Eleutherius was responsible for the construction of many new churches in Kazakhstan, which were dedicated to [[George the Trophy-bearer|Saint George]], [[Xenia of St. Petersburg|Saint Xenia]], the [[Dormition|Dormition on the Theotokos]] and the Icon “The Joy of All Who Sorrow”.
  
 
During the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Holy Synod of the Russian Church began a series of structural reforms in January 1991. The synod created the Province of Kazakhstan on [[January 31]], establishing the Eparchy of Shymkent thanks to Hegumen Eleutherius' works and restoring the [[Eparchy of Uralsk]]. Now, Kazakhstan had three eparchies: Almaty, Shymkent and Uralsk. Hegumen Eleutherius was elected on the same day by the synod as Bishop of Shymkent and Tselinograd, having the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent elevated to cathedral.
 
During the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Holy Synod of the Russian Church began a series of structural reforms in January 1991. The synod created the Province of Kazakhstan on [[January 31]], establishing the Eparchy of Shymkent thanks to Hegumen Eleutherius' works and restoring the [[Eparchy of Uralsk]]. Now, Kazakhstan had three eparchies: Almaty, Shymkent and Uralsk. Hegumen Eleutherius was elected on the same day by the synod as Bishop of Shymkent and Tselinograd, having the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent elevated to cathedral.
  
On [[February 14]], 1991, Hegumen Eleutherius was elevated to [[archimandrite]], being consecrated Bishop the next day. On [[July 16]], 1993, following the independence of Kazakhstan and the change of Tselinograd's name to Akmola, Bishop Eleutherius' title changed to “Shymkent and Akmola”. Due to his commitment to the revival of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan since his arrival in the country, Bishop Eleutherius headed from May 5, 1995, a planning group for reviving missionary activities in the country. It led to the recognition by the Holy Synod of an intereparchial comission of Kazakh bishops consisting of the three eparchies, headed by Archbishop Alexei (Kutepov) of Almaty (1990–2002; now Metropolitan of Tula), on July 16 of the same year.
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On [[February 14]], 1991, Hegumen Eleutherius was elevated to [[archimandrite]], being consecrated Bishop the next day. One of his initial ordinations was of Victor Micheykin as deacon in 1992, who later became His Grace the Bishop of Petropavl. On April 3, 1993, Bishop Eleutherius participated in the [[ordination|cheirotonia]] of Archimandrite Michael Raskovalov as the first bishop of the restored Eparchy of Kurgan in the Urals by [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow]] (1990–2008). On the next day, he also participated in the cheirotonia of Father Ioannis Popov as Bishop of Belgorod (now Metropolitan) by the Patriarch. On [[July 16]], 1993, following the independence of Kazakhstan and the change of Tselinograd's name to Akmola, Bishop Eleutherius' title changed to “Shymkent and Akmola”. On October 3, 1993, he participated in another cheirotonia, of Archimandrite Simon Getya as Bishop of Tikhvin (now Metropolitan) near [[Eparchy of St. Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] by Patriarch Alexei.
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Due to his commitment to the revival of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan since his arrival in the country, Bishop Eleutherius headed from May 5, 1995, a planning group for reviving missionary activities in the country. It led to the recognition by the Holy Synod of an intereparchial comission of Kazakh bishops consisting of the three eparchies, headed by Archbishop Alexei (Kutepov) of Almaty (1990–2002; now Metropolitan of Tula), on July 16 of the same year.
  
 
In 1999, after Astana (today Nur-Sultan) became capital of Kazakhstan, the Eparchy of Almaty was transferred to Astana, which was also capital of Akmola, being renamed as “Eparchy of Astana and Almaty”. Bishop Eleutherius' title and jurisdiction over Akmola remained for all the territories in the region besides the capital. After Archbishop Alexei's election to the Eparchy of Tula in 2002, Bishop Eleutherius became also vicar to the Eparchy of Astana until 2003. On [[February 29]], 2004, the Holy Synod elevated him to the rank of Archbishop.
 
In 1999, after Astana (today Nur-Sultan) became capital of Kazakhstan, the Eparchy of Almaty was transferred to Astana, which was also capital of Akmola, being renamed as “Eparchy of Astana and Almaty”. Bishop Eleutherius' title and jurisdiction over Akmola remained for all the territories in the region besides the capital. After Archbishop Alexei's election to the Eparchy of Tula in 2002, Bishop Eleutherius became also vicar to the Eparchy of Astana until 2003. On [[February 29]], 2004, the Holy Synod elevated him to the rank of Archbishop.
  
Archbishop Eleutherius' joint work with the other two eparchies of Kazakhstan resulted in the creation of the Metropolia of Kazakhstan during the 2010 structural reforms issued by the Holy Synod over all of its canonical territory. While Astana was promoted to the seat of the metropolia, three new eparchies were established: [[Eparchy of Pavlodar|Pavlodar]] and [[Eparchy of Karaganda|Karaganda]] from the Eparchy of Astana and [[Eparchy of Kostanay|Kostanay]] from Archbishop Eleutherius' eparchy, which faded as a missionary vicariate during the atheist persecution in 1937. On March 25, 2011, Archbishop Eleutherius assumed the position of chairman of the Ecclesiastical Court for the Metropolia of Kazakhstan.
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Archbishop Eleutherius' joint work with the other two eparchies of Kazakhstan resulted in the creation of the Metropolia of Kazakhstan during the 2010 structural reforms issued by the Holy Synod over all of its canonical territory. While Astana was promoted to the seat of the metropolia, three new eparchies were established: [[Eparchy of Pavlodar|Pavlodar]] and [[Eparchy of Karaganda|Karaganda]] from the Eparchy of Astana and [[Eparchy of Kostanay|Kostanay]] from Archbishop Eleutherius' eparchy, which faded as a missionary vicariate during the atheist persecution in 1937. At the local Synod of Astana in 2011, Archbishop Eleutherius was made chairman of the Ecclesiastical Court for the Metropolia of Kazakhstan. He also participated in the cheirotonia of His Grace the new Bishop of Karaganda, [[Sebastian (Osokin) of Karaganda|Archimandrite Sebastian Osokin]] by His Holiness the [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow|Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow]] in 2011.
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On June 19, 2011, Archbishop Eleutherius, His Eminences the [[Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana|Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana]] and the [[Anthony (Moskalenko) of Uralsk|Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko) of Uralsk]], and His Grace the Bishop Sebastian of Karaganda concelebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishement of the Eparchy of Shymkent. At the occasion, the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded Archbishop Eleutherius with the Order of Gratitude.
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During the new October 2011 structural reforms announced by the Holy Synod, another three eparchies were established: Kokshetau (from Shymkent), Ust-Kamenogorsk (from Kostanay) and the restored Eparchy of Petropavl (from Pavlodar). The territories of the eparchies was also rearranged — Akmola, for example, joined jurisdiction under Kokshetau. Therefore, Archbishop Eleutherius' title was changed to “Shymkent and Taraz”. On September 17, 2013, at the occasion of His Eminence's 60th anniversary, Patriarch Kyrill awarded the Archbishop with the second class of the Order of Saint Daniel of Moscow, which is awarded for services in the revival of spiritual life in Russia.
  
During the new October 2011 structural reforms announced by the Holy Synod, another three eparchies were established: Kokshetau (from Shymkent), Ust-Kamenogorsk (from Kostanay) and the restored Eparchy of Petropavl (from Pavlodar). The territories of the eparchies was also rearranged — Akmola, for example, joined jurisdiction under Kokshetau. Therefore, Archbishop Eleutherius' title was changed to “Shymkent and Taraz”. He also participated in the [[ordination|cheirotonia]] of His Grace the new Bishop of Karaganda, [[Sebastian (Osokin) of Karaganda|Archimandrite Sebastian Osokin]] by His Holiness the [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow|Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow]] in 2011.
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On June 8, 2014, Archimandrite Vladimir Micheykin, who received the cheirotonia as Victor Micheykin in 1992 from Archbishop Eleutherius' hands and served under him, was elected Bishop of Petropavl. On August 5, 2015 in [[Church of Ukraine|Ukraine]], Archbishop Eleutherius participated in the cheirotonia of Archimandrite Nathaniel Krikota as Bishop of Shumsk (now Archbishop of Volyn) by His Eminence the Metropolitan Onuphrius (Berezovsky) of Kiev. On December 14, 2018, the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded Archbishop Eleutherius the Order of Honor for his many years of contribution to strengthening and preserving interethnic peace and harmony. On February 15, 2021, at the occasion of Archbishop Eleutherius' 30th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, Patriarch Kyrill awarded him the second class of the Order of Saint Innocent of Moscow for missionary work and ecclesiastical enlightment. On May 13, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana also awarded Archbishop Eleutherius for his anniversary, with the local Order of Saint Zephaniah of Turkestan in recognition of his hard work for the good of the Church in Kazakhstan.
  
Archbishop Eleutherius was hospitalized with severe coronavirus infection at the end of May 2021. He reposed in the Lord at 67 years of age on [[June 4]], victim of thromboembolism. His funeral liturgy took place two days later, presided by His Eminence the Metropolitan [[Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana]]. Archbishop Eleutherius was buried at the altar of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, where he served for more than half of his earthly life.
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Archbishop Eleutherius was hospitalized with severe coronavirus infection at the end of May 2021. He reposed in the Lord at 67 years of age on [[June 4]], victim of thromboembolism. His funeral liturgy took place two days later, presided by His Eminence the Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana, His Grace the Bishop Serapion (Kolosnitsin) of Kokshetau and His Grace the Bishop Vladimir (Micheykin) of Petropavl. According to his wish, Archbishop Eleutherius was buried at the altar of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, where he served for more than half of his earthly life. Metropolitan Alexander stated:
  
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: “On the days when the Holy Church continues to celebrate the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see off the Archbishop of Shymkent and Taraz, Eleutherius, on his way. Being a wise and kind hierarch, he taught his clergy and laity an example of dedication of all of oneself to God and to people. The restoration of destroyed churches, the opening of new parishes, the glorification of the memory of the new martyrs and confessors, the development of charity and spiritual enlightenment — these are the fruits of his noble deeds, brought as a gift to Christ. The deceased hierarch showed others a peaceful spirit, humility and evangelical simplicity. Everyone who was next to Vladyka felt his attention and warm benevolence. In the memory of all who knew and loved Vladyka Eleutherius, his bright image and a good example of sacrificial service to Orthodoxy will remain. Now Almighty God has called the archpastor, his faithful servant, to the Heavenly villages. We believe that a crown of righteousness awaits the newly departed saint there, which the Lord, according to the word of the Apostle, promised all who loved His coming.”
  
 
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Revision as of 07:56, June 29, 2021

His Eminence Eleutherius (Kozorez) (Russian: Елевферий Козорез; 17 September 1953 – 4 June 2021) was Archbishop of Shymkent and Taraz in Kazakhstan. Archbishop Eleutherius was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Shymkent from 1991 to his repose as victim of the Great Pandemic in 2021. His Eminence's name day was August 4 for Saint Eleutherius the Cubicularius.

Life

Yuri Feofanovich Kozorez (George) was born on September 17, 1953 into a peasant family in the rural village of Obariv, near Rivne in Ukraine. George graduated high school in 1970, when he was 14 years old. During this time, he served the Church with minor orders. In the following years, George went to Moscow in order to join the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1979. He remained there as a post-graduate student, receiving his Degree in Theology in 1984 from the Moscow Theological Academy. In 1985, George moved to the Eparchy of Almaty in Kazakhstan, serving under the newly-elected Bishop Eusebius (Savvin) of Almaty (1984–1990; now Metropolitan of Pskov), who had also come from Moscow.

On April 13, 1985, Bishop Eusebius ordained George a deacon at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Almaty. (see photos) Deacon George was ordained into Holy Priesthood by the same bishop on September 17, being entrusted as rector to the cathedral. Father George left the cathedral in 1986 to be made rector of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, (see photos) as well as dean to the churches located in Turkistan (where Shymkent is) and Kyzylorda. On March 26, 1987, Father George was tonsured into monasticism receiving Saint Eleutherius the Cubicularius as his patron saint. In 1988, Hieromonk Eleutherius was elevated to the rank of hegumen. Hegumen Eleutherius was responsible for the construction of many new churches in Kazakhstan, which were dedicated to Saint George, Saint Xenia, the Dormition on the Theotokos and the Icon “The Joy of All Who Sorrow”.

During the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Holy Synod of the Russian Church began a series of structural reforms in January 1991. The synod created the Province of Kazakhstan on January 31, establishing the Eparchy of Shymkent thanks to Hegumen Eleutherius' works and restoring the Eparchy of Uralsk. Now, Kazakhstan had three eparchies: Almaty, Shymkent and Uralsk. Hegumen Eleutherius was elected on the same day by the synod as Bishop of Shymkent and Tselinograd, having the Church of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent elevated to cathedral.

On February 14, 1991, Hegumen Eleutherius was elevated to archimandrite, being consecrated Bishop the next day. One of his initial ordinations was of Victor Micheykin as deacon in 1992, who later became His Grace the Bishop of Petropavl. On April 3, 1993, Bishop Eleutherius participated in the cheirotonia of Archimandrite Michael Raskovalov as the first bishop of the restored Eparchy of Kurgan in the Urals by Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow (1990–2008). On the next day, he also participated in the cheirotonia of Father Ioannis Popov as Bishop of Belgorod (now Metropolitan) by the Patriarch. On July 16, 1993, following the independence of Kazakhstan and the change of Tselinograd's name to Akmola, Bishop Eleutherius' title changed to “Shymkent and Akmola”. On October 3, 1993, he participated in another cheirotonia, of Archimandrite Simon Getya as Bishop of Tikhvin (now Metropolitan) near St. Petersburg by Patriarch Alexei.

Due to his commitment to the revival of Orthodoxy in Kazakhstan since his arrival in the country, Bishop Eleutherius headed from May 5, 1995, a planning group for reviving missionary activities in the country. It led to the recognition by the Holy Synod of an intereparchial comission of Kazakh bishops consisting of the three eparchies, headed by Archbishop Alexei (Kutepov) of Almaty (1990–2002; now Metropolitan of Tula), on July 16 of the same year.

In 1999, after Astana (today Nur-Sultan) became capital of Kazakhstan, the Eparchy of Almaty was transferred to Astana, which was also capital of Akmola, being renamed as “Eparchy of Astana and Almaty”. Bishop Eleutherius' title and jurisdiction over Akmola remained for all the territories in the region besides the capital. After Archbishop Alexei's election to the Eparchy of Tula in 2002, Bishop Eleutherius became also vicar to the Eparchy of Astana until 2003. On February 29, 2004, the Holy Synod elevated him to the rank of Archbishop.

Archbishop Eleutherius' joint work with the other two eparchies of Kazakhstan resulted in the creation of the Metropolia of Kazakhstan during the 2010 structural reforms issued by the Holy Synod over all of its canonical territory. While Astana was promoted to the seat of the metropolia, three new eparchies were established: Pavlodar and Karaganda from the Eparchy of Astana and Kostanay from Archbishop Eleutherius' eparchy, which faded as a missionary vicariate during the atheist persecution in 1937. At the local Synod of Astana in 2011, Archbishop Eleutherius was made chairman of the Ecclesiastical Court for the Metropolia of Kazakhstan. He also participated in the cheirotonia of His Grace the new Bishop of Karaganda, Archimandrite Sebastian Osokin by His Holiness the Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow in 2011.

On June 19, 2011, Archbishop Eleutherius, His Eminences the Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana and the Archbishop Anthony (Moskalenko) of Uralsk, and His Grace the Bishop Sebastian of Karaganda concelebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishement of the Eparchy of Shymkent. At the occasion, the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded Archbishop Eleutherius with the Order of Gratitude.

During the new October 2011 structural reforms announced by the Holy Synod, another three eparchies were established: Kokshetau (from Shymkent), Ust-Kamenogorsk (from Kostanay) and the restored Eparchy of Petropavl (from Pavlodar). The territories of the eparchies was also rearranged — Akmola, for example, joined jurisdiction under Kokshetau. Therefore, Archbishop Eleutherius' title was changed to “Shymkent and Taraz”. On September 17, 2013, at the occasion of His Eminence's 60th anniversary, Patriarch Kyrill awarded the Archbishop with the second class of the Order of Saint Daniel of Moscow, which is awarded for services in the revival of spiritual life in Russia.

On June 8, 2014, Archimandrite Vladimir Micheykin, who received the cheirotonia as Victor Micheykin in 1992 from Archbishop Eleutherius' hands and served under him, was elected Bishop of Petropavl. On August 5, 2015 in Ukraine, Archbishop Eleutherius participated in the cheirotonia of Archimandrite Nathaniel Krikota as Bishop of Shumsk (now Archbishop of Volyn) by His Eminence the Metropolitan Onuphrius (Berezovsky) of Kiev. On December 14, 2018, the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded Archbishop Eleutherius the Order of Honor for his many years of contribution to strengthening and preserving interethnic peace and harmony. On February 15, 2021, at the occasion of Archbishop Eleutherius' 30th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, Patriarch Kyrill awarded him the second class of the Order of Saint Innocent of Moscow for missionary work and ecclesiastical enlightment. On May 13, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana also awarded Archbishop Eleutherius for his anniversary, with the local Order of Saint Zephaniah of Turkestan in recognition of his hard work for the good of the Church in Kazakhstan.

Archbishop Eleutherius was hospitalized with severe coronavirus infection at the end of May 2021. He reposed in the Lord at 67 years of age on June 4, victim of thromboembolism. His funeral liturgy took place two days later, presided by His Eminence the Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana, His Grace the Bishop Serapion (Kolosnitsin) of Kokshetau and His Grace the Bishop Vladimir (Micheykin) of Petropavl. According to his wish, Archbishop Eleutherius was buried at the altar of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Shymkent, where he served for more than half of his earthly life. Metropolitan Alexander stated:

“On the days when the Holy Church continues to celebrate the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see off the Archbishop of Shymkent and Taraz, Eleutherius, on his way. Being a wise and kind hierarch, he taught his clergy and laity an example of dedication of all of oneself to God and to people. The restoration of destroyed churches, the opening of new parishes, the glorification of the memory of the new martyrs and confessors, the development of charity and spiritual enlightenment — these are the fruits of his noble deeds, brought as a gift to Christ. The deceased hierarch showed others a peaceful spirit, humility and evangelical simplicity. Everyone who was next to Vladyka felt his attention and warm benevolence. In the memory of all who knew and loved Vladyka Eleutherius, his bright image and a good example of sacrificial service to Orthodoxy will remain. Now Almighty God has called the archpastor, his faithful servant, to the Heavenly villages. We believe that a crown of righteousness awaits the newly departed saint there, which the Lord, according to the word of the Apostle, promised all who loved His coming.”
Succession box:
Eleutherius (Kozorez) of Shymkent
Preceded by:
Archbishop of Shymkent
1991–2021
Succeeded by:
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