St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kislovodsk

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

St. Nicholas Cathedral or the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kislovodsk is one of the main religious sites of the resort and the largest Christian church in the city. According to the saved records, the first mention of the cathedral dates back to 1803, but then, a simple wooden church was located on the site of the current temple. Over the years, the news about the healing properties of the local mineral water grew, people began to come here, new houses were built, and there was a need to renovate the temple. In 1824, a draft of a new church was drawn up, construction work began in 1825 and lasted until 1827. For several decades, the temple has been working properly, services have been held. But by the second half of the XIX century, the church required major repairs and expansion. The renovated church opened its doors to parishioners in 1883.

The renovated church had three gilded iconostases. At one time Fyodor Chaliapin himself performed here. In the 30s of the last century, the area where the temple was located began to be equipped. The old church did not fit into the new landscape and it was razed to the ground.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was decided to recreate the temple. The construction work lasted 6 years, and in 1999 the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker received the first parishioners.

The current cathedral is a five–domed cruciform temple with a height of 54 meters. It has three thrones, the central one was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The elevations in front of the main altar from the common part are fenced with an openwork lattice covered with gilding. The floors in the temple are covered with granite tiles, numerous murals serve as decoration of the walls and ceilings. The main relic of the church is the icon of the patron saint – Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The church museum houses a large number of interesting exhibits, including the personal belongings of Hieromonk Stephen. In the library you can get acquainted with various religious literature. The local shop sells icons, literature, and other paraphernalia at very affordable prices. Delicious homemade dishes can be enjoyed in the refectory. Especially in demand are: dumplings with mushrooms, chops, zrazy, pancakes. On fasting days, lenten dishes are sold. On church holidays and weekends, tents for the sale of pastries are set up on the square. In addition, the church has an Orthodox gymnasium, a Sunday school, and a youth center.

The only drawback is that the service in the temple takes place on the second floor, and therefore it is difficult for people with limited mobility to go up and down the stairs.

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