The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the oldest surviving Orthodox Church in the city. Erected between 1902 and 1905 with funds from both the state and the local community, it is prominently located within the grounds of the Botkin Cemetery. The cathedral’s construction was significantly supported by Nikolai Ivanov, a revered Commercial Consultant and neighbor to the cemetery, who was held in high esteem by the Turkestan bishopric. Ivanov’s generosity extended to numerous donations to the Orthodox Church, notably financing the creation of a resplendent golden iconostasis for the cathedral.
Engineered by F.V. Smirnov and designed by L. Burmeister, the cathedral’s consecration ceremony was officiated by Protopope Konstantin Bogoroditsky. On regular days, the church welcomed 20 to 30 parishioners, while holy days saw over 200 faithful congregants.
The post-revolutionary era saw the church become a pivotal institution for the Orthodox community in Uzbekistan. The clergy were divided, with some supporting the Soviet regime and others opposing it. In the tumultuous 1920s, the cathedral was overtaken by the ‘regenerates’—followers of a nascent Christian movement that emerged post-February Revolution. This forced the Orthodox faithful to conduct services near a chapel dedicated to Our Lady «Everybody mourning in joy.» Following the war, the cathedral was rightfully restored to the Orthodox Church.
Tours in Uzbekistan
