170th anniversary of the founding of the oldest temple in the Kazakhstan capital - the Cathedral in the name of Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsars Constantine and Helena

June 2, 2024 – 5th week of Easter, “about the Samaritan.” A celebration took place in Astana in memory of the 170th anniversary of the founding of the oldest temple in the Kazakh capital - the Cathedral in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and his mother Queen Helena. In 1854, with the blessing of Archbishop of Tobolsk and Siberia Evlampius (Pyatnitsky), the first temple was founded in Akmolinsk, as Astana was called in the 19th century.

The spiritual celebrations on the occasion of the historical date were led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the oldest church in the capital. At the beginning of the festive service, for prayerful worship and spiritual strengthening of the believers, the Metropolitan delivered to the cathedral an ark with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.

His Eminence was co-served by: the dean of the parishes of the capital, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), the custodian of the Constantine-Elenin Cathedral, Archpriest Sergius Kaliev, the confessor of the Astana convent in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost,” Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov), the custodian of the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Astana, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek. , cleric of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the city of Astana, Hieromonk Siluan (Sinegubov), head of the personal secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), Priest Nikolai Koval, cleric of the Kazan Cathedral of Almaty, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Protodeacon Nikolai Grinkevich, head of the Metropolitan Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky, Protodeacon Alexander Mokiy, Deacon Ilya Davydov, Deacon Ilya Salyakhov, Deacon Ioann Yanchuk.

During the service they prayed: the abbess of the monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” in the city of Astana, nun Sevastiana (Plotnikova) with the nuns of the monastery; employees of the diocesan administration; parishioners of the cathedral and capital churches; teachers and students of the parish Sunday school.

Guests of the holiday were: Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan O.V. Perepechina, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan E. Nukezhanov, Deputy Akim of the city of Astana E.B. Baiken.

The choir of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena sang under the direction of N.V. Mazurina.

At the Liturgy, prayers were offered for the ever-memorable Kazakh hierarchs, for the deceased clergy and monastics who labored in Kazakhstan, among whom were the founder of the monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost,” confessor of the faith Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin) and the abbess of the monastery, Abbess Raphaila (Vasilenko); All were remembered “in the time of fierce persecution from the atheists, those who were tortured and killed, who died from hunger, cold, wounds, illnesses and overwork, and all Orthodox Christians who lived in faith and piety in the land of Kazakhstan.”

Using the communion verse, Priest Georgy Rublinsky read out the address of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan on the occasion of the celebration of the 170th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Constantine and Helena.

At the end of the Liturgy, Easter glorification and a religious procession took place.

Part of the holiday was the laying of the foundation stone of a new monastery building and the consecration of the newly built building of the parish Sunday school in honor of the blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. In memory of the celebration, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the wall of the cathedral.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the dean of the Astana church district, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), the keymaster of the cathedral, Archpriest Sergius Kaliev, the clergy, monastics and parishioners on a significant event in the spiritual life of Astana - the 170th anniversary of the founding of the oldest capital church, after which he addressed words of heartfelt gratitude to everyone, who through prayer, sacrifice or personal participation helped and continues to provide support to parish life.

In prayerful memory of the event, the Head of the Metropolitan District gave the temple an icon with a particle of the relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and Queen Helena and an altar cross with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. As a gift to the church, Metropolitan Alexander presented a copy of the temple document on the construction of the Church of Constantine and Helena, signed by Archbishop Evlampius of Tobolsk and Siberia. Archpriest Sergiy Kaliev gratefully accepted the shrines and historical relics from the hands of the hierarch.

The protodeacon proclaimed many years to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill; To the head, archpastors, clergy and flock of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; To the President of the country, the authorities, the military and all the people of Kazakhstan; patrons, benefactors, decorators and parishioners of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena.

Guests - representatives of the government of Kazakhstan - addressed the participants of the celebration with words of congratulations. Congratulations on the occasion of the historical date from the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan M.S. Ashimbaev was read out by his deputy O.V. Perepechina. The Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.G. sent a congratulatory message to the participants of the holiday. Balaeva; it was voiced by Vice Minister K.Zh. Iskakov. Deputy Akim of Astana E.B. Baiken announced a welcoming address from the head of the capital's executive power, Zh.M. Kasymbek. The Metropolitan asked representatives of government authorities to convey words of gratitude for the greetings sent to the Speaker of the Senate, the minister and the head of the city.

Patrons, benefactors and active participants in the parish life of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena were awarded awards of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan - orders, medals and blessed archpastoral letters.

An exhibition of photographs, “Witness to History,” dedicated to the past and modern life of the oldest cathedral in the capital, was opened on the cathedral square. The event was organized by the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and the parish of the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena (curators - the keymaster of the cathedral, Archpriest Sergiy Kaliev and the vice-rector for educational work of the Alma-Ata Seminary, Priest John Livinsky).

A concert program was organized for the guests of the holiday. Bright musical performances were presented by church and secular groups of the capital.

“Happy is the man who lives next to the temple of God! He lives near Heaven, near Paradise, near salvation,” says Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Orthodox people at all times could not imagine their lives without a church. Both the majestic metropolitan cathedrals and small rural churches have always represented “Heaven on earth” for the believing heart, reminded of eternity, given joy and consolation.
The capital of Kazakhstan, the beautiful Astana, surprises numerous guests and tourists with its grandiose buildings, spacious squares and original monuments. Among all this architectural diversity, there is one unique place in the metropolis, a true cultural and historical pearl of the city - the Cathedral of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen. This church has crossed the 170-year mark of its existence and today is one of the oldest buildings in the capital.
The history of the Council of Constantine and Helena is connected with the exploits of the new martyrs and confessors of Kazakhstan. He remembers the works of the elder saint, the ascetic of piety, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov). Here the Pochaev-Tselinograd Icon of the Queen of Heaven became famous for its miracles.
Today, the Cathedral of Constantine and Helena is a significant spiritual and cultural center of Astana. People of different religions and nationalities come here to get acquainted with the oldest temple in the capital, see unique icons and revered shrines.
The history of every church is dear and instructive for the Christian soul. Our cathedral survived the troubled decades of the atheistic twentieth century. He was and to this day remains a source of blessed light for the capital of Kazakhstan and our entire country.” From the words of Metropolitan Alexander about the Council of Constantine and Helena.