St Alexius Cathedral

Construction and Garrison History (1909–1912)

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was decided to build a monumental stone church for the spiritual needs of the large military garrison in the European part of Samarkand.

The project was developed by the Petersburg architect Fyodor Verzhbitsky with the participation of the Samarkand military engineer Fyodor Smirnov, based on a standard design of a military church approved by the Ministry of War.

The ceremonial foundation was laid in 1909 at the corner of Rostovtsev and Nikolayevskaya streets. By the autumn of 1911, construction was completed, and in 1912 the church was consecrated in the name of Saint Alexius of Moscow — the heavenly patron of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolayevich.

Architecture and Layout

Construction: A hall-type church (24 × 16 meters) without internal supporting columns, which creates a single prayer space filled with light and air, with excellent acoustics.

Style: A laconic Neo-Russian style, inspired by Pskov-Novgorod and Moscow medieval architecture. The facades are laid of dense shaped brick in an ochre-sand shade, decorated with belts, shirinki and kokoshniki.

Verticals: Above the main entrance rises a hipped bell tower with an open belfry tier, and the central prayer hall is covered by a tall light drum with an onion dome.

Years of Desolation and Revival

In the 1920s, the Soviet authorities closed the cathedral, dismantling the hipped bell tower and the crowning dome. For decades the building found itself on the closed territory of a military unit and was used for warehouse and administrative needs.

In 1996, the church was transferred to the Tashkent and Uzbekistan Diocese.

On November 13, 1996, a historic event took place: the church was personally consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus during his visit to Central Asia.

In the following years, through donations from parishioners and benefactors, the bell tower and dome were completely rebuilt, a carved iconostasis was made, and bells were purchased.