Nativity Cathedral, Chișinău
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The Cathedral of Christ's Nativity () is the main cathedral of the
Moldovan Orthodox Church Moldovan and Moldavian refer to something of, from, or related to Moldova or Moldavia. In particular, it may refer to: *Moldovans, the main ethnic group of the Republic of Moldova *''Moldavians'', the inhabitants of the historical territory of the ...
in Sectorul Centru,
Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
. It was built in 1830 to a design by Abram Melnikov. The bell tower was destroyed in 1962, and the cathedral was transformed into an exhibition centre during the Soviet period, before returning to religious purposes. A new bell tower was constructed in 1997.


History

It was commissioned by the governor of New Russia, Prince
Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (; ) was a Russian nobleman and field-marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic Wars and most famous for his participation in the Caucasian War from 1844 to 1853. Early life Vorontsov was born on ...
, and Metropolitan Gavril Bănulescu-Bodoni in 1830. The cathedral was built in the 1830s to a Neoclassical design by Abram Melnikov (who had designed a similar church in
Bolhrad Bolhrad (, ; ; , ) is a small city in Odesa Oblast (province) of southwestern Ukraine, in the historical region of Budjak. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion (district) and hosts the administration of Bolhrad urban hromada, one of ...
). The cathedral was bombed during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and its
bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell to ...
was destroyed by the local Communists in 1962. During the Soviet period, worship was prohibited and the cathedral was transformed into an exhibition center. Since that period, it has been returned to its religious purpose in 1989. Restoration work continued from then until 1996, and a new bell tower was constructed in 1997. In 2016 the Bank of Moldova minted a commemorative coin to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the building of the cathedral. The silver coin had a face value of 50 lei, and featured the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Moldova on one side, with an image of the "Nativity" Cathedral from Chisinau on the other side.


Design

Melnikov's design is Neoclassical. The façade is very simple and clear with six Doric columns marking the entrance. Because of the numerous attacks which the cathedral suffered throughout time, the building has received several restorations and shifts in its shape. For instance, the current zinc dome and its cross at the top are both an addition from 1997, built over the previous structure. The inside was completely blank during the Soviet period. Today the interior walls are again painted in pure Orthodox style. File:Chisinau riot 2009-04-07 23.jpg, During 2009 parliamentary election protests Catedral de la Natividad, Chisináu, Moldavia, 2023-11-03, DD 84-86 HDR.jpg, Belfry Catedral de la Natividad, Chisináu, Moldavia, 2023-11-03, DD 30.jpg, Belfry and cathedral Catedral de la Natividad, Chisináu, Moldavia, 2023-11-03, DD 36-38 HDR.jpg, Iconostasis File:25 річниці незалежності Молдови 04.jpg, The Moldovan flag in front of the cathedral.


See also

* Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa *
Moldovan Orthodox Church Moldovan and Moldavian refer to something of, from, or related to Moldova or Moldavia. In particular, it may refer to: *Moldovans, the main ethnic group of the Republic of Moldova *''Moldavians'', the inhabitants of the historical territory of the ...


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nativity Cathedral, Chisinau Religious buildings and structures in Moldova Cathedrals in Moldova Churches completed in 1836 19th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings History of Chișinău Buildings and structures in Chișinău Neoclassical church buildings in Moldova Christianity in Chișinău Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova