Aktau, a city on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, is home to the Church of the Annunciation (Церковь Благовещения Пресвятой Богородицы), a symbol of faith and community for the local Orthodox Christians. The story of this church began in the spring of 1990, when a group of devoted residents recognized the need for a place of worship in their city, where there was no Orthodox church for hundreds of kilometers.

The Inspiration and Founding

According to Vera Melkonyan, a founding member, the inspiration for the church came from a vision experienced by Valery Shchekotikhin. In his vision, his deceased grandfather, who had been a priest, urged him to awaken the Orthodox community in Aktau and establish a church. Motivated by this vision, Valery and his friend Viktor Roshchak posted notices around the city, calling on Orthodox Christians to come together. This led to the formation of a group that included Valery Shchekotikhin, Tatyana Morozova, Viktor Roshchak, Vera Melkonyan, and Lyudmila Lytyagina. They wrote a letter to Patriarch Alexy II, seeking his blessing to build a church. To their delight, the Patriarch gave his blessing to construct an Orthodox church in this remote region.

Gaining Momentum and Community Support

Upon receiving the blessing, the group's enthusiasm grew, and many people offered their support. The city authorities also recognized the need for a church, and on October 18, 1990, the Aktau City Council allocated land for its construction. In February 1990, Father George (Yuri) Likhachev, appointed by Bishop Anthony of Uralsk and Guryev, arrived in Aktau to lead the future parish. He began conducting services, prayers, and confessions in his apartment, introducing many people to these practices for the first time.

The First Church Building

The dedication of the land for the church was marked by an eventful day of torrential rain, which Father George interpreted as a sign of cleansing by the Virgin Mary, preparing the city for the new church. The community quickly assembled a temporary church using two prefabricated barracks provided by a local factory director. This provisional church, known today as the "old church," was consecrated on April 7, 1991, during the Feast of the Annunciation. That same year, Easter coincided with the feast, and the small church was overflowing with people, with many standing outside to join in the celebration.

Growth and Development

The Church of the Annunciation quickly became a hub for the local community. The parish expanded to accommodate about 150 people, with members planting fruit trees, tending gardens, and raising livestock. The church complex grew to include residential buildings, a garage, workshops, and utility structures. A kindergarten and a primary school were also established, providing education to 42 students. The parish engaged in numerous charitable activities, visiting prisons, homes for the elderly, and traveling to nearby towns that lacked churches. A group dedicated to caring for the sick and elderly was formed, and this tradition continues today.

Building the New Church

In 1996, a new phase began with the laying of the foundation stone for a larger church. At a ceremony attended by local authorities and a large gathering of the faithful, Archbishop Anthony blessed the construction site. Architect Lyudmila Kramarenko, who had also designed the first church, was deeply committed to this project and worked tirelessly alongside Father Gerontius (Panos), who was then leading the parish. Despite many challenges, the new Church of the Annunciation was completed in 2000. An iconostasis was ordered from Moscow, and on December 3, 2000, Archbishop Anthony consecrated the new church.

A Testament of Faith

Today, the Church of the Annunciation stands as a beacon of faith, community, and resilience in Aktau. It continues to serve as a spiritual home for many, a testament to the dedication and efforts of its founders, and a living symbol of the enduring Orthodox Christian faith in the region.

Address: Aktau, 29A micro-district, 3B.