A place of spiritual unity

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan performed the great consecration of the newly built cathedral – cathedral in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, which has become one of the attractions of the city of Kokshetau. The solemn event was held with the participation of Akim of the region Yermek Marzhikpayev.

Resemble that the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is located on the new embankment of Lake Kopa. The church was built in the traditions of Russian church architecture of the mid-XIX century, but using the latest technologies and modern high-quality materials.

The akim of the region thanked Metropolitan Alexander for his special attention to the life of Orthodox believers in the Akmola region. He stressed that a constructive dialogue between the executive authorities and the leading traditional confessions of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been and remains an indispensable condition for maintaining inter-religious peace and inter-ethnic harmony in the field.

Yermek Boranbaevich congratulated the Orthodox believers and all residents of Akmola on such a significant event, noting that the new church has become a place of spiritual unity, worship of kindness and mercy of thousands of parishioners, an architectural decoration of the regional center.

In his missive, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted :" Our main principle – unity in diversity-is unshakable. We must protect the unity and harmony in society as the apple of our eye. It is necessary that citizens realize the importance of harmonious interethnic and interfaith relations."

There are 82 mosques, 28 Orthodox churches and eleven Catholic churches in our region. In recent years, we have erected a church in the city of Shchuchinsk, built an Orthodox church in the village of Maksimovka in the Sandyktau region, literally at the beginning of September, a stone was laid to commemorate the construction of a mosque in the village of Rodina in the Tselinograd region for 100 seats.

Temples are being built in the cities of Yesil, Derzhavinsk, Makinsk, the villages of Shortandy and Shantobe. These objects are important as centers of spiritual unity of people, moral education of young people and strengthening the institution of the family. It is very symbolic that the main mosque "Nahuan Hazret" and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ are located close to each other, which is a real personification of inter — confessional harmony, " he added.

The akim of the region recalled how the temple was built, starting from the moment of laying the first stone in November 2015 years. The construction has become a national cause, about 700 organizations and thousands of residents of Akmola have donated funds for this good cause. Together, we managed to collect more than 1 billion tenge. The most significant contribution was made by the enterprises of the region: "Mining and Metallurgical Concern "Kazakhaltyn", "Kokshetau mineral waters", "Altyntau Kokshetau", " AP "Impex" and many others. The public foundation "New Cathedral", which became one of the main initiators of the construction, received separate words of gratitude.

Yermek Boranbaevich also pointed out that representatives of all nationalities and various faiths participated in the construction of the cathedral, and this once again underlines the inter-confessional harmony in the region. Therefore, this is a holiday not only for Orthodox believers, but also for representatives of different ethnic groups living on the fertile land of Akmola.

– The event that took place today is not only a regional event, it is an event for the whole country and the entire Orthodoxy, — said Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, congratulating the audience. — Because the temple is an amazing place where people gather and receive mercy from the Lord, strengthening in goodness, in morality, receives a blessing for creative work. This year is a year of many wonderful events for our native Kazakhstan. We are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Independence of our Fatherland.

The first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said many wonderful phrases, one of them I would like to say today at the consecration and opening of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Our Elbasy says that a spiritual bird soars over the expanses of the Great Steppe. One of its wings is Islam, the second is Christianity. And these are the two main, reliable pillars on which peace and harmony are based in our multinational, multi-confessional society. Interethnic harmony and religious peace are the main achievements that Kazakhstan has.

I express my gratitude and gratitude to the regional and city authorities, who, as it has always been and is in Kazakhstan, treat the needs of Muslims, Catholics and, of course, Orthodox people with understanding. I would like to thank the builders, decorators and donors. Thank you, let this church always remind you of kindness, always calls for kindness, evokes feelings of love for your native land and your neighbor in the hearts of parishioners. So that by visiting it, we become nobler, purer, so that the commandments of Christ, which the church preaches day and night, find a response in our souls.

It is customary to give gifts on a holiday. The head of the Metropolitan District presented Bishop Serapion of Kokshetau and Akmola with a Certificate of the great consecration of the church, and gave the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Abbess of Mount Athos"to the parish as a blessing.

In addition, the head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan presented the collection " Temples of Kazakhstan. The 21st century" and the medal established in honor of the eight-hundredth anniversary of Prince Alexander Nevsky.