St. Teodora de la Sihla Church, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in central Chișinău, Moldova
St. Teodora de la Sihla Church is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in central Chișinău built with Byzantine Revival style and red brick walls. Slender towers topped with high pyramidal spires dominate its outline and create a striking vertical presence in the city.
Architect Alexander Bernardazzi designed the building in 1895 initially as a chapel for a girls' school. Its consecration as a full church happened much later in 1922, marking its transition to independent religious use.
The church blends Russian and Ottoman architectural elements that reflect the region's historical position between different cultures. This mixing of styles is visible in the decorative details and forms that visitors notice while exploring the building.
The cathedral is located in central Chișinău and welcomes visitors throughout the week during regular Orthodox services. It helps to time your visit with service hours to experience the space when it is actively used by the community.
The building has an elevated basement that once connected directly to the former girls' school, revealing its dual past. This underground link is still visible when entering and shows how the space served an educational function before becoming a place of worship.
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