Sightseeing tours in Almaty.

“What strange phenomena we find in a great city, all we need do is stroll about with our eyes open. Life swarms with innocent monsters” 

Charles Baudelaire.

Excursion to Zenkov Cathedral in Almaty.

Zenkov Cathedral - also known as Ascension Cathedral, is a Russian Orthodox cathedral located in Panfilov Park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Completed in 1907, it is the second tallest wooden building in the world.
It is also one of the eight most unique wooden buildings in the world. After revolution it was used as historical museum, cultural centre and just in 1990 again it was given a status of the Russian Orthodox cathedral.
The Cathedral was built in 1904 - 1907 on the territory of the park. The monument is wooden architecture and the model of the seismo building. It was designed by the Russian architect Zenkov A.P. The height is 54m.
The building is consist of 6 wooden frame of logs which were piled of Tien-Shan fir-trees. The wall-paintings were designed by Chludov. It withstood the very severe earthquake of 1910. Svyato-Voznesenski Orthodox Cathedral (also called the Zenkov Cathedral) was designed by a local architect A.P.Zenkov and was built of wood, entirely without nails in 1904.
Its wallpaintings and screens were painted by local artist Nicholai Chludov while the interior decorations were made in art workshops in Moscow and Kiev. Its height is about 50 meters. The building strikes one’s imagination with its beauty and splendor.
It is one of the eight most unique wooden buildings in the world. Of special interest is the fact that it survived the 1911 earthquake with a magnitude of 10 on the Richter scale. Used as a museum of local lore, history, and economy during the Soviet period, in May 1995 the Cathedral has been returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and restored. Since 1997, Orthodox services have been carried out there.
Now both residents and visitors can fill their eyes with views of this building, listen to its chimes and watch celebrations. It is open to the public and has a small gift shop inside selling souvenirs relating to the Orthodox Church.
This architectural landmark is one of just eight unique wooden structures in the world. The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Ascension has а striking beauty and splendor. It was built in 1904 -  1907, designed bу the architect А.Р. Zenkov with wall paintings bу Nikolai Кhludov.
Zenkov projected and built this Cathedral using elastic-fierce “basket” with too low center of gravity with ring underground gallery, saved the building during the earthquake. The building concludes 6 frame of logs, which are formed from Tien-Shan fir-tree.
Wall paintings were made by Nikolai Khludov. This building was restored in 1907. Тhе cathedral is about 54 meters  high yet, interestingly, it withstood the very severe earthquake of 1910.
Used as а museum during the Soviet period, the cathedral reopened for church service 1995.There is a small souvenir stand inside where Orthodox devotional items can be purchased. For many various purposes, but the church.
1929 it has been used the Central State Museum of Kazakh SSR; 1930 other public organisations moved into the building; It also served as the first Almaty Radio Transmission Tower. In 1985 when the Central Museum moved to a new building, the church was used as concert and exhibition hall.
Fall of the communist regime in the USSR gave a second breath to religion in all post-soviet countries. Zenkov Andrei Pavlovich (1863 - 1936) – a military engineer-builder and architect. He moved on Almaty from Tobolskyi province.
He projected and built the Cathedral in Vernyi.Ascension Cathedral, also known as Zenkov Cathedral, is a Russian Orthodox church located in Panfilov Park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Completed in 1907, it is the second tallest wooden building in the world.
The inner structure of cathedral was made in workshops in Moscow and Kiev. The iconostasis was painted by N. Khludov. After the Russian Revolution, the cathedral was used to house the Central State Museum of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.
From 1930 to 1940 it was used by important public organizations. Almaty’s first radio transmitters were housed in the cathedral's belfry. Restoration work on the cathedral took place between 1973 and 1976.
In May 1995, control of the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and after additional restoration, was reopened for religious services in 1997. In the 28 Panfilov’s Guardsmen Park. Tel.: 233 0 539.

Authority:
"Zhetysu is the Land of  tourism”. A Tourist Guide-book. Almaty.  2003. 68 p. and the material for this page is taken from the printed edition."Guide to Kazakhstan" BAUR Publishing House 2002.

Photos
Alexander Petrov.