On July 2, 2010, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, visited the newly built St. Nicholas Cathedral in Temirtau, Kazakhstan, constructed at the government's initiative, reports Patriarchia.ru.
The honored guest was met by the head of the Metropolitanate in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Archbishop Alexander of Astanai and Alma-Ata, as well as by the secretary of the Diocesan council of Astanai, Archimandrite Gennady (Gogolev), and other members of the Kazakhstan Orthodox clergy.
The President was accompanied by Republic of Kazakhstan Minister of Defense Zhaksybekov Adilbek Ryskeldinovich Zhaksybekov, and other government officials.
The President and Archbishop Alexander looked over the new Cathedral. President Nazarbayev lit a candle for the prosperity of the people of Kazakhstan.
Vladyka Alexander expressed his heartfelt thanks to the President for his initiative in building the new church in this metallurgical city, and the diocesan choir sang "many years" to the country's president.
The President in turn awarded the Archbishop with a medal commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of "Kazakhstan Magnitka," invited him to the Astanai's seventieth anniversary celebration, and donated a new "Gazelle" truck to the cathedral.
President Nazarbayev congratulated the faithful with the important event, and expressed his conviction that this new church will aid in the spiritual rebirth, moral renewal, and strengthening of peace and mutual understanding in the multi-national and multi-confessional Republic of Kazakhstan.
