Metropolitan Alexander Performs the Lesser Consecration of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Alma-Ata Following Extensive Restoration

August 27, 2026. Alma-Ata. On the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed the lesser consecration of the restored St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent.

During the summer, with the blessing of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, extensive restoration work was carried out at the principal church of the convent with funds donated by benefactors and parishioners.

Present in prayer during the rite of consecration were: O.N. Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), Superior of the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent, with the sisters of the community; Archpriest Alexander Sokolov, Sacristan of the St. Sophia Cathedral; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek), Personal Secretary to the Metropolitan; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation; clergy, staff and parishioners of the cathedral; and students of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary.

The hymns were performed by the choir of the Iveron-St. Seraphim Convent under the direction of O. Usoltseva.

After the prescribed prayers had been read, the hierarch sprinkled the interior of the cathedral with holy water.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the Mother Superior, clergy and parishioners on this significant event in the spiritual life of the convent – the completion of the extensive restoration of the St. Sophia Cathedral – and then expressed his gratitude to all those who had contributed to the work through their prayers, donations or personal involvement.

The Metropolitan venerated the holy icons and relics of the cathedral and bestowed his archpastoral blessing upon all those present.