St. Nicholas Cathedral is dedicated to Nicholas Mogilevsky, Metropolitan of Almaty and All Kazakhstan, who spent years in exile on Aktobe’s land and was canonized in 2000.

Construction began in 2006 and finished in 2008. The cathedral opened on September 22, 2008, in a ceremony attended by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The cathedral is built in the Pskov-Novgorod architectural style, known for its clean lines and imposing presence. Reinforced concrete walls are clad in red brick with a yellow pattern. Five domes crown the church, while the bell tower reaches 45 meters (148 ft).

Inside, the most revered relic is an icon containing a fragment of the relics of St. Nicholas Mogilevsky, the cathedral’s patron saint.

How to get there?

Address: Aktobe, 6 Mametova St.

The easiest option is to take buses 6, 8, 15, 24, 26, or 46 to the Mosque stop and then follow Unity and Harmony Boulevard straight to the cathedral.

You can also take buses #37, 48, or 51a to the Keruen City stop and then walk 400 meters to the cathedral.

Other tourist attractions near the cathedral:

• First President Park
• Keruen City Shopping Mall
• Unity and Harmony Boulevard
• Nur-Gasyr Mosque
• Tree of Life Water Park
• Oner Ortalygy Concert Hall
• Alley of Manshuk Mametova