The Church of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow

The Orthodox Cathedral of St. Alexy of Moscow (St. Alexy Cathedral; Cathedral of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow) was built in Samarkand in 1909-1911 according to the design of military engineer F. V. Smirnov as the main military cathedral of the city and consecrated in 1912 in honor of the wonderworker, St. Alexy. This project has become a model for the construction of military temples in Turkestan.

The cathedral is built of light red brick, high arched windows and carved friezes emphasize its belonging to the beginning of the XX century. The high octagonal bell tower, the green arch above the entrance and the roof add originality to the building. There is one hall inside, and under a high light dome there is a deep altar decorated with icons.

St. Alexius Cathedral underwent a number of changes at various times: in the 1920s, under Soviet rule, it was closed and partially dismantled, became part of a military camp, and the surrounding area became a military unit. Later it received the status of a branch of the State Museum-Reserve, and only in 1996 it was transferred to the disposal of the Russian Orthodox Church and consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

In September 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Cathedral of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow as part of his visit to Uzbekistan.