The Head of the Metropolitan District Visited the Oldest Church in Petropavlovsk

April 29, 2026. Petropavlovsk. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, who is on an archpastoral visit to the Petropavlovsk Diocese, visited the oldest church of the capital of Northern Kazakhstan – the Cathedral in honor of the Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.

Together with the Head of the Metropolitan District, the President of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim,” V.M. Kapsamun, arrived at the main church of the Petropavlovsk Diocese.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was accompanied by: Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo; Secretary of the Petropavlovsk Diocese, Archpriest Sergiy Pervushin; Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgiy Sidorov.

Metropolitan Alexander and those accompanying him were welcomed by the rector of the Petropavlovsk Cathedral, Archpriest Sergiy Snopkov.

Upon arrival, His Eminence, together with the hierarchs and clergy, performed a service of glorification to the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

Metropolitan Alexander offered special prayers for the hierarchs, pastors, monastics, and laity of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, for peace and prosperity in the land of Kazakhstan, and for the President, authorities, armed forces, and people of the Republic.

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander exchanged the Paschal greeting with those present, then sprinkled the faithful with holy water and spoke with members of the parish community.

Afterward, the Head of the Metropolitan District, accompanied by Archbishop Vladimir and Archpriest Sergiy Snopkov, inspected the cathedral currently undergoing restoration after being damaged by large-scale floods that occurred in the spring of 2024. The ruling hierarch of the Petropavlovsk Diocese informed the distinguished guests that the walls, vaults, and foundation of the church have been reinforced, the floors repaired, the roof replaced, and the altar restored. He also shared plans for exterior finishing work on the cathedral during the summer.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan positively assessed the completed work and thanked all those who are actively participating in the restoration of the oldest church of the Petropavlovsk Diocese.

At the conclusion of the visit, Metropolitan Alexander and the hierarchs venerated the holy objects of the church and wished the rector God’s help in his labors for the benefit of Orthodoxy in the land of Northern Ishim.

The church, built in the first half of the 19th century, was desecrated and partially destroyed after the October Revolution. It was returned to the faithful only in 1946. A memorial plaque dedicated to Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan is affixed to the wall of the cathedral. The plaque bears a portrait of the saintly elder and the inscription: “In the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Petropavlovsk, from 1956 to 1960, the outstanding figure of the Russian Orthodox Church of the 20th century, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan, served.” Metropolitan Joseph arrived in Petropavlovsk in 1956 after his release from exile, on the eve of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. His first service in the cathedral took place on the day of the patronal feast. On March 18, 1957, the independent Petropavlovsk Diocese was established, and Metropolitan Joseph was appointed its ruling hierarch with the title of Petropavlovsk and Kustanai. The newly formed diocese included five regions: Petropavlovsk, Akmola, Karaganda, Kokchetav, and Kustanai.

In the spring of 2024, the cathedral was damaged by unprecedented flooding. On December 29, 2024, Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo performed the great consecration of the cathedral. At present, restoration work continues through voluntary donations from benefactors and the faithful.