On September 20, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the newly built church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Astrakhan and performed the rite of its minor consecration.
Before the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church inspected the exposition on the territory of the temple with sketches of future paintings, as well as the belfry with bells. Igor Babushkin, Governor of the Astrakhan Region, and Nikon, Metropolitan of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak, provided explanations to His Holiness.
His Holiness was co-served by Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, managing director of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Nikon of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak; Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, personal secretary of His Holiness the Patriarch; Dean of the Zlatoust Church District of Astrakhan, Priest Igor Anishchenko, as well as the clergy of the Astrakhan Diocese and Moscow.
Governor of the Astrakhan region Igor Babushkin, Senator of the Russian Federation from the Astrakhan region Andrey Derkach, builders and benefactors of the temple prayed at the service. The chants were performed by the quartet of the bishop's choir of the Astrakhan Diocese under the direction of Andrey Larichev.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nikon of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak greeted the Primate of the Russian Church and presented him with the Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God. Then the Governor of the Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, addressed His Holiness.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill pronounced the Primatial word. In memory of the service, His Holiness presented the newly consecrated church with an icon of the Savior Not Made with Hands. All believers were presented with icons of the Mother of God of Smolensk with the Patriarchal blessing.
The Church of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky was laid on November 3, 2022 at the intersection of Bakinskaya and Musa Jalil streets. Its construction, dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Holy Prince, was carried out with charitable funds on the initiative and with the support of the Governor of the Astrakhan region.
The architectural appearance of the church was created in the traditions of ancient Russian temple architecture. The height of the building from the base to the cross exceeds 30 meters, and the capacity is about 300 people. It is assumed that military personnel, among others, will be spiritually nurtured in the temple. The new temple is intended to become a place of prayer for Astrakhan residents and a symbol of spiritual strength, courage and service to the Fatherland.
On September 21, the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will perform the rite of the great consecration of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on the territory of the revived Annunciation Monastery in Astrakhan and preside over the Divine Liturgy.