The Feast of St. Janyl
Irad's patronal feast and its greatest pilgrimage. Riders from both sides of the Qara-Chik line bring their horses and flocks to Cathedral Hill to be blessed.
The blessing of the herds on the cathedral esplanade.
St. Janyl, "Mother of Irad", is the country's patron saint, and her church at Iyık Janyl has been its great place of pilgrimage since 1727. The feast was banned in public from 1937 and kept at night by families who climbed the hill in secret. Since the cathedral was reconsecrated in 1992 it has come back in full. In 2026 the archbishopric counted more than 150,000 pilgrims.
What happens
- The pilgrimage. In the days before the feast, riders from the cities and the tribal regions come down the Naryn and up the Cathedral Hill road. Riders from the tribal side cross the Qara-Chik line for the feast.
- The liturgy. The archbishop celebrates in the Church of St. Janyl, with bishops from all over Irad, in Iradi and Syriac.
- The blessing of the herds. Priests move among the horses and sheep on the esplanade, blessing them with water. It's the picture everyone comes for.
- Blessed bread, processions and races. Blessed bread is handed out, processions wind round the hill, at chabysh endurance riders race in the valley, and families share long meals.
- Name days. Every woman called Janyl celebrates her name day on the feast, so the town is full of name-day parties.
The pilgrim season runs on into September and ends with Salyba Künü, the Feast of the Cross, on 14 September.
Visiting the cathedral
- Dress modestly. Women cover their heads, and white scarves are lent at the north door.
- On Sundays there is a Qurbana in English for pilgrims at 12:00. Other times are on the cathedral's site.
- Ask before you photograph people at prayer, and keep a respectful distance from the horses being blessed.
- The Irad Palace of Art, opposite the cathedral park, is free on the day of the feast.
Where to stay
Book months ahead. The archeparchy's Pilgrimage Hostel near the cathedral has about 180 beds and puts up yurts for riders from the tribal regions. The twelve guesthouses below Cathedral Hill fill early. Tash-Kömür, 8 km downriver, is the nearest alternative. Bring cash: few places in Iyık Janyl take cards.
Getting there
Buses leave Talas Central Bus Station at 06:30 and 12:00 and take about 6 hours 50 minutes over the Ala-Bel pass. Iradiya flies from Talas to Tash-Kömür. See getting there and our guide to Iyık Janyl.