Medieval monasteries

from Iasi

Comenius team from 6C grade“Ion Ghica” Secondary School

St. Nicholas ChurchSt. Nicholas Church was built between 1491-1492. It is founded by Moldavian prince Stephen the Great (1457-1504), whose reign of 47 years remained emblematic because the country's independence struggles and because churches and monasteries high, 40 in number, according to tradition, 30 and having reliable data for identification. It was rebuilt in its original form by the French architect Lecomte de Nouy (1884-1904), during the reign of King Charles I (1866-1914). St. Nicholas was a time metropolis, here is the altar where the lords anointed with oil, being close to the Royal Court (now the Palace of Culture). In a cell Metropolitan Dosoftei lived and worked a printing company and a school.

St. Nicholas Church

Dosoftei House

Pupils from 6C grade, in front of Dosoftei House

The church "Saint Sava" The date of birth of the church "Saint Sava" is August 4 1583, during the reign of Peter the Lame. It was built in the Byzantine style with oriental influences, Gothic and Moldavian, with two low towers, massive, fortress-like appearance gives it. Although it is considered a monastic building in the sixteenth century, its origins are much older. The present church was rebuilt on the site of an older, founded around 1330 by some monks arrived in Jerusalem. Was an important cultural center, located in the medieval city core formed in the Royal Court, which begins at the gate street of Old Street (Costache Negri street today), where is the Church "Saint Sava".

Saint Sava Church

Three Hierarchs ChurchThree Hierarchs Church was built by Prince Vasile Lupu between 1637-1639. Initial construction of the Gothic style also included a high tower entrance and cells. Like other buildings suffered disastrous effects of earthquakes and fires in 1802, 1821 and 1827. It was restored in 1882 by architect Lecomte de Nouy, which brings some changes to the arches, spiers and roofs. It was consecrated in 1904, in the presence of King Carol I. Three Hierarchs Monastery was a major cultural center of Moldova. Church's celebrity date carved ornamentation arranged in horizontal rows that lace dress like a façade, a mix of styles: Oriental, Renaissance, Baroque, Moldavian.

Three Hierarchs Church

Golia MonasteryGolia Monastery, named after the great chancellor John Golia, the first patron of the building in 1546. The present church was built during the reign of Vasile Lupu and his son, Stefan, from 1650 to 1660. It has a mix of styles, particularly the Gothic and Byzantine, with the total height of 30 meters, a length of 30 meters and a width of 13 meters, is surrounded by seven towers. The monastery has the typical appearance of a medieval fortress, surrounded by high walls 9 feet thick over a meter provided with towers at the corners with a bell tower.From Golia tower, 30 meters high, visitors can admire the panorama of the city, climbing the 120 steps.

Golia Monastery

Golia Church The walls around Golia Monastery and Golia tower

The medieval town of Iasi was lacked by defensive walls, as the fortresses from the Middle Ages were , which urged the townsfolk to build fortified monasteries with high and thick walls and high and strong bell towers which served in defense. Iasi, built on seven hills, like the ancient city of Rome had, outside the royal palace with its walls, seven fortified monasteries, which were meant to protect the population in case of attack. One of them was "The Beautiful" Monastery , located at the foot of the hill Cetatuia ,was founded and built by hetman Meletios Balica, between 1586-1587.

"The Beautiful" Monastery