A new church dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky will be built at a military base in the Caucasus Mineral Waters region, the Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church announced. The foundation stone was blessed during a special ceremony led by Archbishop Feophilakt of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk, marking the official start of the future temple’s construction, which is expected to unfold over the coming years.

The initiative to build the church came from the command of the military unit and received broad support from its personnel, according to the diocesan website. Addressing the servicemen, Archbishop Feophilakt highlighted the symbolic significance of choosing St. Alexander Nevsky as the heavenly patron of the new temple.

He noted that the revered Russian prince embodies “both spiritual steadfastness and military service,” calling his name “one of the most vivid examples of the unity of sainthood and martial valor, glorified by the Church and the history of our Fatherland.” The archbishop added that it was especially fitting for the saint’s name to be honored at a place where military service continues to this day.

In Russia, several military churches are dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky, the patron saint of Orthodox warriors and defenders of the homeland. Among the most prominent are the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, where his relics are kept, and the Main Cathedral of the Armed Forces in Patriot Park, which includes a chapel devoted to the saint. Cathedrals bearing his name also stand in Volgograd and Nizhny Novgorod, and many military units across the country have churches dedicated to him as symbols of the deep connection between faith and the duty of service.