The Saint Cave is located in Genghis Khan, 220 km south of Semey, between the aul of Sarzhal and the village of Karaul in the Abay district of East Kazakhstan region.The Saint Konir Cave has been considered a sacred place since ancient times. The narrow mouth of the cave is 80-100 meters above the bank of the Chagan River. Basically, there is a narrow cavity on the right side of the cave, which leads to a large room. To the north, the cave roof has 2 domes and continues to the lake. There is a room on the way to the lake from the main room. The air temperature in the cave does not exceed 10 degrees.At the bottom of the Saint Konir`s cave there is a weeping spring and a pond. People have it for healing. A person who falls into a cave and prays will be cured, and those who despair of having children will have a child if they pray to the mysterious forces in the dark places of the “Saint Konir” cave. The cave was considered sacred and became a place of worship for many people. According to locals, their ancestors came here during the war to heal their wounds.The following information about the Saint Konir was provided in the newspaper Vitebskie Gubernenskie Vedomosti №63 in 1892: “The Saint Konir is a cave of the Kazakh saints near Semipalatinsk, where many people come to worship the statue of a woman. It is surrounded by small stone objects, beads and bronze sculptures. Sacrifices will be made near the saint, and in case of an epidemic, sick animals will be brought here”.
References: 1. Kazakhstan sacred objects
of whole national importance. – Astana: Foliant, 2017. –39-41pp.
- The sacred Kazakhstan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cex4zgGCqRU
