St. Nicholas Cathedral
St. Nicholas Cathedral, constructed between 1906 and 1908, endured significant challenges during the Soviet era. In 1918, the local bishop fell victim to the turbulent times and was shot. The 1930s saw the suppression of religion in the USSR, leading to the conversion of the cathedral into a museum of atheism. During World War II, the sacred space was repurposed as a stable, and a military penal company was stationed there. Consequently, the city of Almaty was devoid of religious sites, all of which had been requisitioned for military use.
After the war, the cathedral resumed its original function but was in a deplorable state. The bell tower had been demolished, crosses were lost, domes were torn down, and the basement bore the scars of bullet impacts. The iconostasis and icons were also missing. The restoration of this historical landmark was undertaken by the Orthodox Christian community of the city.
Until 1995, St. Nicholas Cathedral served as the seat of the ruling bishop of the Kazakhstan diocese. That same year, the Worship Cross was established at the temple, symbolizing a place of reverence not only for Orthodox believers but also for individuals of various faiths. The cross was erected in memory of the victims of political repression, a tragic chapter that affected people of diverse religious backgrounds.
In 2012, a monument dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was erected within the cathedral's precincts. Notably, this temple houses the relics of the saints Great Martyr Panteleimon from the Athos Monastery and the Great Martyr Barbara from Kyiv.
How to get there?
Address: Kazakhstan, Almaty, 56/5 Baitursynov St.
You can get to the church by buses #18, 25, 113, 224 or trolleybus #9 (get off at the “Gymnasium #36” bus stop and then walk 300 m to the cathedral).
Opening hours:
Mon-Sun from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Other tourist attractions near the cathedral:
- Square of A. Baitursynov
- Monument to A. Baitursynov
- Karagaily Park
- Monument to the Liquidators of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster
- Museum of Almaty
- Uyghur Theater of Musical Comedy
- Korean Theater of Musical Comedy
Recommended tours:
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