Ascension Cathedral, Almaty

Ascension Cathedral, Almaty (must see)

The Ascension Cathedral, also known as the Zenkov Cathedral, is a wooden Russian Orthodox church situated in Panfilov Park, Almaty. Completed in 1907, the building stands at a height of 56 meters and is believed to be the second-tallest wooden structure in the world. Interestingly, the cathedral was constructed entirely without nails.

In the late 19th century, the first bishops of the Turkistan eparchy recognized the need for a Russian Orthodox Church in Almaty. On September 26, 1903, the bishop of Turkestan and Tashkent, Paisii, sanctified the church's foundation, and the construction process began between 1904 and 1907.

The belfry was added in 1906, and the cathedral managed to survive the 1911 earthquake with minimal damage, a feat that some attributed to divine intervention. There are rumors that the decision to avoid using nails was influenced by their role in the crucifixion of Jesus.

The interior of the cathedral was constructed in art workshops in Moscow and Kyiv, and the iconostasis was painted by artist N. Khludov. Following the Russian Revolution, the cathedral was repurposed as the Central State Museum of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, and from 1930 to 1940, it was utilized by significant public organizations. The belfry even housed the first radio transmitters in Almaty.

From 1973 to 1976, restoration efforts were undertaken, and the cathedral was handed back to the Russian Orthodox Church in May 1995. After further restoration work in 1997, it was reopened for religious services.

From July 2017 to October 2020, the cathedral underwent extensive reconstruction, and it is now open to the public, welcoming visitors and newcomers.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Almaty. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Ascension Cathedral on Map

Sight Name: Ascension Cathedral
Sight Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan (See walking tours in Almaty)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Create Your Own Walk in Almaty

Create Your Own Walk in Almaty

Creating your own self-guided walk in Almaty is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Almaty Introduction Walking Tour

Almaty Introduction Walking Tour

Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former (and the first) President of Kazakhstan, once remarked: "Almaty is the pearl of Kazakhstan, the most beautiful city in Central Asia." Indeed, the country's largest metropolis, Almaty is like a butterfly that has emerged from its cocoon, spreading its wings and soaring towards the sky at the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains.

The name Almaty is...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles