The Cathedral of St. Joseph is Karaganda’s first Catholic church. In the 1930s, many Volga Germans, Poles, and people from the Baltic States were exiled to the Kazakh steppes. Among them were devout Catholics who, despite harsh persecution, began gathering secretly for prayers in private homes. Believers continuously petitioned the authorities, seeking permission for open worship. In 1977, a miracle of sorts occurred when the community was granted permission to build a place of worship. Three years later, a bishop blessed the new church.
Due to the restrictions of the time, churches were prohibited from standing out as religious structures. Instead, they had to resemble ordinary residential buildings. For this reason, St. Joseph’s Cathedral was housed in what looked like a simple house. In the early 21st century, however, the cathedral underwent a renovation, and a tall tower was added.
Though St. Joseph’s Cathedral may not appear as grand or lavish as other places of worship, its interior is beautiful. Now holding the esteemed title of a basilica, the cathedral embodies a piece of history—a testament to the resilience of a people who held onto their faith during some of the darkest times in their country’s history.
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