Metropolitan Alexander Held a Working Meeting on Preparations for the Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Return of St. Nicholas Cathedral of Almaty to the Orthodox Church

February 6, 2026. Almaty. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan held a working meeting devoted to preparations for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the return of St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Southern Capital to the Orthodox Church.

This historically and spiritually significant date will be commemorated later this year.

The meeting took place at the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; the Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral and Dean of the churches of the Almaty Church District, Archpriest Valery Zakharov; the Key-Bearer of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Svetlichny; the Vice-Rector for Pastoral Formation of the Almaty Seminary, Priest John Livinsky; the Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; as well as staff members of the Almaty Diocesan Administration.

During the meeting, the composition of the organizing committee was determined. It includes clergy of the Almaty Diocese and lay specialists. Those present outlined a list of the most significant spiritual-educational, scholarly, youth, cultural, and social events to be held as part of the jubilee celebrations.

“Eighty years ago, through the labors of the holy confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Almaty and Kazakhstan, this majestic church at the foot of the Zailiysky Alatau, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, was returned to its lawful owner – the Russian Orthodox Church. Today, St. Nicholas Cathedral stands as one of the symbols of the ecclesiastical revival of Orthodoxy on Kazakhstani soil and as a monument to the courage of hierarchs, clergy, and laypeople of the twentieth century who boldly confessed the truth of God in the face of militant godlessness,” Metropolitan Alexander noted.

The jubilee program includes solemn divine services; the bringing to Kazakhstan of wonder-working holy relics from the Orthodox world; the preparation of a documentary film recounting the history and present life of one of the oldest churches of Almaty; the publication of a booklet dedicated to the cathedral; as well as an open lesson and a concert organized by the Central Sunday School.

The celebrations will also include a scholarly conference and a photo exhibition presenting previously unknown photographs and historical documents.

It is expected that hierarchs of Kazakhstan, as well as guest bishops from Russia and CIS countries, will take part in the jubilee events.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander expressed his gratitude to all participants for their labors and assigned the relevant tasks to diocesan staff and lay specialists.