Metropolitan Alexander consecrated newly constructed domes and crosses of the Cosmas and Damian church under construction in Alma-Ata

4 April 2026. Alma-Ata. On the feast of the Raising of the Righteous Lazarus by Christ, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, performed the rite of consecration of newly constructed crosses and domes of the church under construction in honor of the holy unmercenary healers Cosmas and Damian of Rome.

The Cosmas and Damian church is being built in the Southern capital through charitable ktitor contributions and donations from the faithful, with the direct support and participation of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” headed by its president Vladimir Mikhailovich Kapsamun.

Praying at the rite of consecration were: Dean of the parishes of the Southern capital, rector of St Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov; rector of the Cosmas and Damian church Priest Andrey Shklyar; the president, staff and specialists of the “Eleos-Meirim” foundation; rectors and clergy of the city churches, parishioners.

Before the beginning of the consecration, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those present on Lazarus Saturday and delivered a homily on the significance of the church in the life of an Orthodox Christian, emphasizing the importance of church construction for the full existence and spiritual development of society, the preservation of traditional moral values and the historical memory of the people.

“Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday open for us the gates of Holy Week, the spiritual center of which is the veneration of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, rightly called the Altar of God’s love, the instrument of our salvation. The Tree of the Cross, from apostolic times to the present day, has been an object of the deepest reverence and worship for all who truly believe in the Gospel truth. Two thousand years ago, on the Cross, our Savior voluntarily endured ‘for us men and for our salvation’ cruel and shameful sufferings and ‘trampled down death by death.’ Stained with the blood of the Lord, sanctified by His sufferings, the Cross became the brightest symbol of the Creator’s love for humanity and the sign of eternal victory over sin, the curse and death. Today we become participants in a spiritually significant event – the consecration of crosses and domes that will crown the church under construction in honor of the unmercenary healers and wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian. These crosses, together with other crosses rising above the churches and cathedrals of Alma-Ata, will sanctify our city, our region, our country with the grace-filled power of Christ, protect us from all misfortunes and troubles, and remind everyone of the boundless love of God for mankind. Today’s event is an important stage in the implementation of a large-scale project – the creation of a new church, the appearance of which is awaited by many residents of the Southern capital,” said the Metropolitan in particular.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan expressed words of gratitude to the ktitor and benefactors and warmly thanked the rector Priest Andrey Shklyar and the construction supervisor V.M. Kapsamun.

After the reading of the prayers for the consecration, the Head of the Metropolitan District sprinkled the crosses and domes with holy water.

In the presence of clergy and parishioners, the Metropolitan commemorated the ever-memorable rector Archpriest Georgy Chistyakov († 2025), through whose labors the Cosmas and Damian parish was established from 1998 and the church has been under construction since 2021.

After the rite of consecration, the archpastor familiarized himself with the current construction works. Priest Andrey Shklyar and V.M. Kapsamun informed the hierarch about the further process of construction and interior finishing planned for the spring–summer period.