Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, December 7, 2021
Photo: foma.ru
The Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, was festively consecrated on Sunday in honor of the 800th anniversary of the Grand Prince’s birthday.
The Russian Church has been holding events, including processions with the relics of St. Alexander, throughout 2021 to mark the anniversary.
The foundation stone for the new cathedral was laid on November 10, 2015, and the construction of the walls began in September 2017.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
The Rite of Great Consecration and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, who was concelebrated by four other hierarchs serving in Kazakhstan and a host of local and visiting clergy, reports the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
An exact copy of the wonderworking Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God was made especially for the cathedral and the festive occasion. According to historical evidence, St. Alexander would enter the territory of what is today Kazakhstan when he would go to meet the head of the Golden Horde. He was accompanied by the miraculous Feodorovskaya Icon.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
Following the consecration, Met. Alexander gave several liturgical items to the new cathedral, including a tabernacle, altar Gospel, and Eucharistic vessels.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
During the Divine Liturgy, prayers were offered up for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II, who reposed on the feast of St. Alexander Nevsky in 2008.
Photo: mitropolia.kz
Following the service, Met. Alexander told the faithful about the Feodorovskaya Icon made for their community, and blessed all with the holy image, invoking the blessing of the Mother of God upon Alma-Ata and all of Kazakhstan.
The new cathedral is crowned with five domes and can hold up to 500 people.
On the same day, the foundation stone for another Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky was laid in Ulyanovsk, Russia.
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