Ascension Cathedral

Ascension Cathedral

Ascension Cathedral
4.5
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  • Frances B
    Yorkshire, United Kingdom2,564 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Simply beautiful
    The Ascension Cathedral is magnified. It is one of the highest wooden buildings and is the highest wooden Orthodox church in the world. It stands 46m high. It is beautiful both in design and colour. It stands in a wonderful park which has a lovely family vibe. There are carriage rides, games and wildlife within the park. Entry is allowed into the church but appropriate clothing is stipulated and women also covering their hair with a head scarf. Head scarves are provided at the door of the church. The interior is just as impressive. Photographs are allowed and there are opportunities to buy candles to light from the church shop next door. I highly recommend visiting this church If are visiting on the hour you may be fortunate in hearing the church bells chiming.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 25, 2023
  • MissHK2009
    Hong Kong, China5,816 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Elegant Orthodox Church
    This is a very elegant and beautiful Orthodox Church next to a park, 15 from the nearest metro station on foot. The area is tranquil that worths a stroll around. It's near to the green market so one can visit all in one go.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 28, 2023
  • Baarish
    Mumbai, India584 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful church in the city Center
    This is a very colourful church surrounded by parks on three sides. The interior is very beautiful. Ladies need to cover their head by the scarves provided at the entrance if a service is in progress. A children’s play area on the road facing side and people feeding pigeons increases the buzz around this place
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 23, 2024
  • Edward
    Santa Rosa, California3,168 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent Russian Orthodox Cathedral
    Although not the oldest Orthodox cathedral in Almaty, Ascension Cathedral is the most famous, and justifiably. Completed shortly after 1900, it is the largest historic cathedral in the city, made of wood,and extremely ornate. It is located in the park containing the monuments to General Panfilov and his 28 Guardsman, sometimes called Panfilov Park, in central Almaty. It is magnificent inside and out and contains numerous icons and many small relics. it is generally open during the day and free to visit. Although people did not always comply, men should wear long trousers and shirts covering their shoulders, and women should also cover their legs, shoulders, and wear a headscarf.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 23, 2024
  • kenkeh
    Subang Jaya, Malaysia4,380 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Russian architecture cathedral
    We parked our rented car nearby here , our rental car guy helped us to pay parking online . It was a busy park full of people , We have outside view of the Cathedral as it was closed for visiting inside . From here we walked to the Cathedral, green bazaar , tsum shopping center and had dinner all within nearby .
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 13, 2024
  • Toni T
    Nashville, Tennessee1,756 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    How Did They Build This Wooden Cathedral Without a Single Nail???
    How did they build this beautiful, intricate structure without a single nail? Explore the Ascension Cathedral,is often called Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park, This Russian Orthodox cathedral is 56 metres tall and was completed in 1907 Some claim that it is the second tallest wooden church in the world, second only to Săpânța-Peri Monastery church in Săpânța, Romania at 78 metres. Appreciate the interior with a respectful walk through.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 28, 2024
  • Bozeman-Dublin
    Trim, Ireland11,398 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely Beautiful Church
    A stunning church right in the heart of Almaty in the middle of a charming park. It is without doubt one of our absolute highlights from our time in Almaty. The park comes alive in the evenings when temperatures cone down a bit and there will be lots of tourists as well as local families enjoying the greenery. The Ascension Church is the centrepiece of the park with a nice plaza out front. It's stunning colours make it an arresting sight. Inside is lovely too with beautiful icons and statuary. We couldn't get enough of this beautiful place.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 1, 2024
  • WPLandry
    Fairfax, Virginia590 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful church
    This is a beautiful old church that is well-maintained. You can see how much effort goes into keeping it in good condition. Visitors are allowed to come in and marvel at the architecture, which is really nice. Just be mindful to dress appropriately. It is an Orthodox Cathedral.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 8, 2024
  • TAMAN1951
    Liberty Lake, Washington8,650 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent
    Absolutely beautiful church constructed of wood without the use of nails. Over a hundred years old and still actively used. Wuite ornate. Well worth the time to visit as a destination.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 14, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Puhup_Verma
New Delhi, India440 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
A beautiful cathedral indeed. We were lucky to visit just a few days before Orthodox Christmas in January , and the snow-clad ambience made everything look even better. They had a huge Christmas tree right outside the church as well.
Important Tip : Despite the fact that we were here very early in the morning , there was no space for our driver / guide to park his car near the church itself. We had to walk for some distance , which included a tiny stretch on the main road itself. This was a bit tricky , considering that there was snow all around , and a continuous onslaught of the city's trolleybuses. Thus , be careful of the traffic and wear footwear which would be safe to walk on snow.
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gill H
Harrow, UK175 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
Beautiful example of a Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Almaty. It is made entirely from wood with no nails. Beautiful inside and out. During much of the soviet occupation it was used as a granary. Well worth a visit inside - myself and my mother in law both found it breathtakingly beautiful.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Arindam G
Dubai, United Arab Emirates221 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
We visited the Ascension or Zenkov cathedral on a summer day which is the biggest attraction in the Panfilov Park. The exterior of the Russian Orthodox cathedral, made out of wood (without nails) was equally impressive as it's ornate interiors with gorgeous icons and paintings depicting various religious stories. A must visit when coming to Almaty.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VinnieLondon
London, UK12,781 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Friends
Located in a central Almaty park the cathedral is a beautiful colourful wooden structure (apparently one of the highest wooden structures in the world and constructed without the use of nails) built 1903-1907. You can access the cathedral to see the ornate interior, but me mindful/respectful that his is a working cathedral with services throughout the day. Great location from which to access many of the other landmarks in central Almaty. Must see landmark for any Almaty visit.
Written June 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PhilipLeic
Leicester, UK1,654 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
One of the places to visit in the Panfilov park area of Almaty. Zenkov cathedral is a wooden Orthodox Russian church and at 56m we were told is one of the tallest wooded buildings in the world, completed in 1907. It is painted and in eclecticism style. We were able to visit inside and it has a peaceful atmosphere in typically orthodox style.
Written November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KatielouAustralia
Hobart, Australia1,910 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
This beautiful five-domed, three-aisled cathedral was built entirely from wood in the early 1900s. When the country was under Soviet rule it was feared that this building would be ruined but luckily it survived. Stunning gold everywhere inside and the unique exterior is also a delight.
Written June 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,891 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
The Ascension Cathedral is a brightly coloured and distinctive Russian Orthodox cathedral and is located in Panfilov Park in Central Almaty. It is also known as Zenkov Cathedral and was completed in 1907, the cathedral is made out of wood but without the use if nails. We visited inside which was incredibly ornate and of typical Russian Orthodox style. The cathedral was getting a fair bit of interest when we visited, it is definately worth exploring when in Almaty.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Raintree_Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand4,445 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
The Ascension Cathedral is truly stunning, inside and out. The exterior architecture is fabulous and the extravagent interior is adorned with magnificent paintings, frescoes, and various other artwork. The structure was completed in 1907 and is built entirely of wood, without the use of any nails! It's reputed to be the second tallest wooden church in the world, standing at 56 meters in height. The church is very welcoming and open throughout the day. As the church sits in the center of Panfilov Park and is surrounded by large open spaces, it is a meeting place for families on outings, teenagers playing volleyball and football, and kids playing. Be sure to visit the church in the evening as well, as it is brilliantly lighted at night.
Written October 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,398 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
A stunning church right in the heart of Almaty in the middle of a charming park. It is without doubt one of our absolute highlights from our time in Almaty.
The park comes alive in the evenings when temperatures cone down a bit and there will be lots of tourists as well as local families enjoying the greenery. The Ascension Church is the centrepiece of the park with a nice plaza out front. It's stunning colours make it an arresting sight.
Inside is lovely too with beautiful icons and statuary. We couldn't get enough of this beautiful place.
Written September 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,530 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
Ascension Cathedral, also called Zenkov Cathedral is located in the very center of Almaty - in the center of Panfilov Park.
It's a Russian Orthodox Baroque style Church dating back to 1907 when it was consecrated. They claim it's the second largest wooden Church worldwide. Besides that, it's famous for being built without a single nail, but only adjoining wooden beams.
The facade is very ornate in distinctive vivid colors.
Do not skip entering it - it's free and you'll be awarded with amazing frescoes and artwork.
At some hours it is possible to climb the bell tower for great views and you also have the opportunity to chime the bells. During our visit it was at 4 PM, but we hadn't time to come back.
Written October 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Ascension Cathedral, Almaty

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