Saint Nicholas Orthodox church in Almaty, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church is a brick cathedral in Almaty built in the Russian Revival style with eclectic details. It has one large central dome topped by a cross and several smaller domes along the roofline.
The church was built in 1906 to serve the Orthodox community of Verny, as Almaty was then called. During the Soviet era it was stripped of its religious function and used for other purposes before being returned to the church after independence.
The church serves the Russian Orthodox community of Almaty, and services are still held in Church Slavonic. Inside, visitors can see a gilded iconostasis that divides the main hall from the altar area.
The cathedral is easy to reach on foot from central Almaty and can be visited any day of the week. Covered shoulders and knees are required inside, and women are expected to cover their heads before entering.
During World War II the building was turned into a museum, which was an unusual fate even among repurposed churches of that era. The brick structure also survived several major earthquakes that struck Almaty during the 20th century without serious damage.
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