Metropolitan Cathedral, Orthodox cathedral in Iași, Romania
The Metropolitan Cathedral is an Orthodox church in Iași distinguished by four detached towers and notable height among the region's historic structures. The basement houses a museum that traces the history of Moldavia and Bukovina through various exhibits.
Construction started in 1833 under Metropolitan Veniamin Costache, encountered structural problems, and concluded with consecration in 1887. Sacred relics were later moved to the cathedral, increasing its role as a center of devotion.
The relics of Saint Parascheva, patron saint of Moldavia, were moved here from Trei Ierarhi Monastery in 1889 and lie on the right side of the vestibule, as do those of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache. Crowds of pilgrims gather especially on her feast day, 14 October. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Parascheva, the Presentation of Jesus and Saint George.
The cathedral stands at 16 Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard, in the Metropolitan Complex alongside the 18th-century Metropolitan Palace and the old St George's Church of 1761–1769. The relics of Saint Parascheva and of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache lie on the right side of the vestibule. The Metropolitan Museum, opened in the basement in May 2016, covers the history of the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bucovina.
The four corner towers reach 52.92 metres, making the cathedral one of the tallest historic buildings in Moldavia. Its 56.70-metre length and 34.15-metre width enclose a rectangular plan; the central dome planned in the 1830s was never rebuilt after the 1857 collapse, replaced by four vaults.
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