Metropolitan Alexander presented a unique four-part icon to the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty

On January 26, 2026, in Almaty, following the Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral presided over by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a sacred item was presented to the main church of the southern capital for permanent placement and prayerful veneration – a unique restored four-part icon of selected saints.

The icon is adorned with an antique silver-gilt oklad crafted by the Alexander Nevsky Art Workshop in Moscow by renowned jeweler A. I. Aniskin. The oklad was donated by the benefactors of the Almaty Diocese. The icon itself was restored by one of the most distinguished iconographers of our time – Honored Artist of the Russian Federation S. N. Sokolov.

The Head of the Metropolitan District presented the restored icon as a gift to the principal church of the southern capital. The icon features depictions of: the Great Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer; the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord John; the three Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; the Archangel of God Michael; the Martyrs Florus and Laurus; the Hieromartyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste; Saint Modestus of Jerusalem; Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia; and Saint Maximus the Confessor.

Protodeacon Roman Golovin read aloud the official certificate of the transfer of the icon to the Ascension Cathedral of the city of Almaty for reverent safekeeping and prayerful veneration.

His Eminence and the clergy blessed the four cardinal directions with the holy icon, invoking the intercession of the saints of God upon the city of Almaty and the whole land of Kazakhstan.

The key custodian of the main cathedral of the southern capital, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, gratefully received the icon from the hands of Metropolitan Alexander.

The Ascension Cathedral of the city of Almaty will serve as the place of permanent residence for the icon.