On September 21, 2026, on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia performed the great consecration of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on the territory of the revived Annunciation Convent in Astrakhan. Then the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.
His Holiness was co-served by Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, Metropolitan Nikon of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak, Bishop Matthew of Akhtuba and Enotaevsky, Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, as well as the clergy of the Astrakhan Archdiocese and Moscow.
The governor of the Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, representatives of state authorities, builders, beautifiers and benefactors of the temple, numerous residents and guests of the city prayed at the divine service. The liturgical hymns were performed by the consolidated episcopal choir of the Astrakhan Diocese under the direction of Andrey Larichev.
Special petitions were offered at the special litany, after which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill read a prayer for Holy Russia.
At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Nikon of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak greeted the Primate and presented him with an icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His Holiness the Patriarch addressed the participants of the divine service with the Primatial Word, calling on believers to unite their lives with God through prayer, church visits and good deeds.
His Holiness donated the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and the Holy Gospels to the newly consecrated church. Metropolitan Nikon was presented with a commemorative cross and panagia.
For his diligent archpastoral labors, Metropolitan Nikon of Astrakhan and Kamyzyak was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, II degree. Representatives of regional authorities and benefactors who provided assistance to the Astrakhan Archdiocese were also awarded with church awards.
All participants of the service were presented with icons of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Patriarchal blessing.
The Annunciation Novodevichy Monastery was founded in Astrakhan at the beginning of the 18th century. After the revolution, the monastery was closed, and in 1929-1930 its temples and bell tower were destroyed. The revival of the monastery complex began in 2008. After His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited Astrakhan in 2017, it was decided to fully restore the monastery.
The foundation stone of the new Annunciation Cathedral was laid on September 2, 2022. The temple, designed for about 700 people, was built in the traditions of ancient Russian architecture. Its height, together with the cross, reaches 50 meters. The interior of the cathedral was created by icon painters from Palekh.