On December 5, 2021, in Almaty, Chairman of the Board of N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue Bulat Sarsenbayev took part in the consecration of a new cathedral in honor of Prince Alexander Nevsky, built to celebrate a historically significant date – the 800th anniversary of the birth of the holy ruler of Russia.
The rite of great consecration and the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan, Alexander, performed with the co-service of the Kazakh archpastors – Archbishop Anthony of the Urals and Aktobe, vicar of the Astana Diocese, administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District of Varna and Pavnadar of Aktobe, Episcopal Bishop of Kaskep Kaska Serapion.
The event was also attended by Deputy Akim of Almaty city E. Babakumarov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Almaty E.P. Bobrov, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation N. Parshikova, Head of the Department of Religious Affairs of Almaty N. Kikimov and other representatives of religious institutions.
Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the clergy and parishioners on a significant event in the spiritual life of the community – the consecration of the new church, and addressed with words of gratitude to everyone who, through prayer or personal participation, helped and continues to provide support in the construction of the cathedral. It was emphasized that the memorable date of the 800th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding historical figure, Prince Alexander Nevsky, symbolically coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. «With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and with the good consent of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy, dear Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Church has been carried out since 2015. I hope that the new church will become one of the significant educational and cultural centers of the southern capital, a place for people to familiarize themselves with traditional spiritual and moral values», - said Metropolitan Alexander.
In addition, Metropolitan Alexander read a common prayer for the good and prosperity of the people of Kazakhstan.
To illuminate the temple, a shrine was delivered – the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, made by an outstanding iconographer, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation S.N. Sokolov.
As a result of the event, the participants were awarded awards of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, including jubilee medals dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the birth of Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky.
