St. Nicholas Cathedral

Location: Baitursynov Street, 56/5.

What’s interesting about it?

This cathedral is a seven-domed church in the form of a ship with high arches, a bell tower, and azure domes. After the revolution, it was considered one of the strongholds of Orthodoxy in the late 1920s and 1930s. When Alma-Ata was a transit point for the State Political Administration under the NKVD, hundreds of “enemies of the people” exiled to Kazakhstan found shelter there, including many clergy representatives. Like the Ascension Cathedral, this temple withstood the 1911 earthquake.

How did it appear?

St. Nicholas Cathedral was built with residents’ funds and began operating in 1908. Immediately after the consecration of the St. Nicholas Church, a particle of the holy relics of the Great Martyr Panteleimon was delivered from the St. Panteleimon Monastery of Athos. Also, at this time, a particle of the holy relics of the Great Martyr Barbara was brought from Kyiv. Both of these shrines are still kept in the temple. In February 1936, the Alma-Ata diocese was arrested, and St. Nicholas Cathedral was closed. Before the outbreak of World War II, the building changed, becoming a museum of atheism. It was subsequently handed over to the military and used as a stable for horses. The church was restored in 1946.

How to visit?

To visit this church, check in advance about the times when there are no services. It will allow you to freely enjoy the interior decoration and not cause inconvenience to parishioners.