Holy spring

The object is located 8 km north-west of Semey, on the territory subordinated to the city (East Kazakhstan region).

The holy key at the site of the apparition of the Abalayskaya Icon of the Mother of God is the object of pilgrimage of people of different nationalities and religions, as it is believed that its water has healing properties. Legend associates it with the name of Colonel Likharev, who led an expedition in 1719, aimed at creating the Irtysh military line to strengthen the borders of Russia from the Dzungarian raids. It was at this place that the icon of the Mother of God of Abalatskaya appeared to the participants of the expedition, and the spring began to be considered a holy place. This fact was accepted by the Russian Orthodox Church, and as a result this place was visited by many pilgrims for the purpose of spiritual and physical recovery. Later on, stone and wooden chapels were built here many times, solemn services and cross passages from the temples of Semipalatinsk were performed, and then, in the beginning of the XX century, there was a convent of women, which was destroyed by the Bolsheviks after the revolution, some nuns were shot. Nevertheless, even in the Soviet period, the Holy Spring has not lost its significance, its memory has been preserved among the people, it is visited by pilgrims for the purpose of ablution, collection of Holy Water and prayer service.

Currently, above the spring itself there is a metal chapel where the icon of the Mother of God of Abalatskaya-Semipalatinskaya is kept. The source of spring water from under the chapel is equipped for convenient taking it to any container. The rest of the water flows down a special concrete box into the equipped font, where washing is performed. Excess water from the font flows down the pipe into the hollow and further into the Irtysh. Above the font is also equipped with a wooden chapel with an icon above the entrance and a place inside it for changing clothes after washing.

The attendance of the Sacred Key is also due to the fact that there is an asphalt road next to it, which facilitates the delivery of pilgrims by a special bus. Nearby are the structures of the former pioneer camp, which continue to be used. A chapel with openwork metal grilles has been built on the approach to the Holy Spring. Approaches to the Holy Spring are equipped with concrete paths.

At present, the Holy Spring is the venue for solemn divine services and is officially considered one of the most revered sacred places in Kazakhstan by the Russian Orthodox Church.