Saint John the Baptist Church, Iași

Saint John the Baptist Church is an Orthodox house of worship in Iași that features fortified walls with arrow openings and gun slits built into its perimeter. A defensive walkway runs along the top of the structure, combining military defensive functions with religious architecture.

Moldavian Prince Miron Barnovschi-Movilă ordered the stone structure built starting in 1626, but after his execution, Vasile Lupu took over and completed it in 1634. The change in leadership delayed the project but eventually brought it to completion.

The church displays typical Moldavian architectural features with its bell tower decorated with parapets and defensive details. These elements show how local building traditions shaped the design of religious structures in the region.

The building sits on I. C. Brătianu Street and welcomes visitors interested in exploring its religious and architectural features. Visitors should note that recent restoration work has been completed to maintain the structure and protect it for future generations.

This was the first fortified church built in Moldavia and used its religious status to bypass Ottoman restrictions on military construction. The approach allowed it to legally incorporate defensive elements that would have been prohibited for non-religious buildings.