Nativity Cathedral, Chișinău

Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Catedrala Nașterea Domnului
Location Central Chişinău
Country Moldova
Denomination Eastern Orthodoxy
History
Dedication Jesus
Dedicated 15 October 1836
Architecture
Status Cathedral
Architect(s) Abram Melnikov
Style Empire
Specifications
Length 37.44m

The Cathedral of Christ's Nativity (Romanian: Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului) is the main cathedral of the Moldovan Orthodox Church in Central Chișinău, Moldova. It was commissioned by the governor of New Russia, Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, and Metropolitan Gavril Bănulescu-Bodoni in 1830. The cathedral was built in the 1830s to a Neoclassical design by Abram Melnikov (who had designed a similar church in Bolhrad). The cathedral was bombed during the World War II, and its bell tower was destroyed by the local Communists in 1962. The new bell tower was constructed in 1997. During the Soviet period, worship was prohibited and the cathedral was transformed into an exhibition center.

Style

This church built by Melnikov is a pure example of neo-classism architecture. The front remains very simple and clear with 6 Doric column for the entrance. Because of the numerous destructions which the cathedral suffered throughout time, the building had received several restorations and shifts in its shape. For instance, the current zinc dome and its cross at the top both are both an addition from 1997 built over the previous structure. The inside was completely blank during the Soviet period but nowadays it sports beautiful painted walls in pure orthodox style.

See also

References

Centrul istoric al Chişinǎlui, La începutul secolului al XXI-LEA, Chișinǎu, Editura ARC, 2009.

External links

Media related to Nativity Cathedral, Chișinău at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 47°01′34″N 28°50′01″E / 47.026°N 28.8336°E / 47.026; 28.8336


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.