Ascension Cathedral
The Ascension Cathedral, the oldest church in Semey, was established in 1860. Unfortunately, in 1922, during the religious persecution by the Bolsheviks, valuable items were seized from the church, and it was then fully handed over to the Renovationists, a religious group that split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the same year. Despite the widespread destruction of churches across the USSR during this time, the Ascension Cathedral miraculously survived.
Following the dissolution of the USSR, Orthodox churches began to reopen in Kazakhstan, leading to a revival of the Ascension Cathedral. Extensive renovations were carried out, including the addition of new golden domes, and the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral.
The cathedral is home to a revered Znamensko-Abalatskaya Icon of the Virgin Mary, which was relocated from the women's monastery on Svyatoy Klyuch after its destruction in 1919.
Visitors can explore the church's history at the church history museum, which houses historical artifacts from the temple.
Opening hours: around the clock, services are held at 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, except Mondays.
How to get there?
Address: Kazakhstan, Semey, 6 Kulzhanovykh St.
You can reach the cathedral by buses #1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20, 28, 30, 33, 36, 39, 41, 44, and 56. Disembark at the “University” stop.
Other tourist attractions near the cathedral:
- Yamyshevsky Gate
- Nevzorov Family Museum of Fine Arts
- Semey Regional History Museum
- Victory Park
- Memorial Museum of Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Anatomical Museum
- Central Park
Recommended tours:
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Embark on an exploration of the Soviet legacy on Kazakh soil! This tour takes you to the infamous labor camps of the Stalin era, Karlag and Alzhir, the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, and various other landmarks from the Soviet era.