Top of the most beautiful religious buildings of Astana - photo report and interesting facts

On October 7, Astana (Kazakhstan) will host the XXIV meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. On the eve of a large-scale forum, media representatives from different countries organized a press tour of the main religious sights of the city. Journalist sb.by visited the mosque “Nursultan”, the Holy Dormition Cathedral, as well as the Cathedral of the Mother of God’s Relentless Help – and is ready to share details.

Nursultan Mosque is one of the most impressive sights of Astana, the largest mosque in Central Asia, is among the ten largest mosques in the world (7th place). The building was built in just three years, the initiator of construction was the first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Up to 35 thousand people can pray here at the same time, and the entire territory accommodates more than 235 thousand visitors, the guide, assistant to the chief imam of the Nursultan mosque Yernar Kozhabek said:

- The mosque has the largest dome in the world, its height is more than 83 meters, a diameter of 62 meters. Under the dome there are two colors: dark blue means space, light blue means sky. Under the dome there is a chandelier weighing 22 tons. The main mosque of Astana is decorated with the world’s largest handmade carpet with an area of more than 16 thousand square meters, which was made in India from New Zealand wool. It weighs 110 tons. The total area of the building is 68 thousand square meters. There are three levels, below the parking, restaurant, medical center, sewing department, library, wedding hall. By the way, the mosque plans to open the first museum of the Prophet Muhammad in Central Asia.

The Holy Assumption Cathedral in Astana is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Central Asia, the height of the dome is 68 meters, the temple accommodates more than 4 thousand people. The cathedral was built for six years - the construction was completed in 2010.

- Then, for six months, the temple was painted by eminent masters from Russia, - said Deacon Andrei Kuznetsov. - Palekh painting is a famous Russian folk craft of miniature painting with egg tempera on papier-mache lacquer products, originated in the village of Paleh, Ivanovo region of Russia on the basis of the traditions of ancient Russian icon painting. The cathedral has four main parts, the central one is consecrated in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God. The main icon of the temple is the Astana-Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. Also in the church are the relics of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the revered icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker “Life” (there are images of all fragments of the saint’s life along the perimeter).

The Cathedral of the Mother of God of Relentless Help is the only Catholic church in the capital (not counting the chapel). Here is the icon of the Mother of God’s tireless help, and its original is kept in Rome. The history of the Catholic Church in Astana began in 1928, the rector of the church, Father Dmitry, said:

- At first, people gathered to pray in their homes. Since 1950, a Greek Catholic priest has appeared, and he began to care for the faithful. Since the 1970s, the local community has made efforts to register and build the church. We managed to buy a building where a chapel was built. And only in 1988 began work on the construction of a large temple. It was illuminated in 1998, and in 1999, Bishop John Paul II of the Roman Catholic Church established a diocese in Astana. In 2001, he personally visited Kazakhstan - it was a great event for all believers and for the whole people.