Princely Church of Saint Nicholas, Orthodox church in Iași, Romania
The Princely Church of Saint Nicholas is an Orthodox church on Anastasie Panu Street in Iași, built on a trefoil floor plan with large arches supporting a single spire. Its exterior walls are decorated with colored terra-cotta discs and carved recesses that give it a distinct look.
Stephen the Great ordered this church built after the Battle of Cătlăbuga, and it was completed in 1493. It belongs to a group of churches he founded as acts of thanksgiving after military victories.
The interior walls are covered with frescoes showing scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, painted in the tradition of medieval Moldavia. These images are still visible today and cover the walls from top to bottom.
The church is open year-round for religious services and visits, and it also functions as a chapel connected to a nearby religious center. Modest dress is expected when entering, as it remains an active place of worship.
In the late 17th century, a printing press operated within the church and produced religious texts that circulated widely across the region. This made the building, for a time, one of the few places in Moldavia where books were being printed.
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