“Saint Spiridon” Church

The church was finalised in 1752 by the chancellor Ștefan Bosie, and was rebuilt in 1807 after the great earthquake. The “Saint Spyridon” Hospital, the first one in Moldavia (1757), was built in the church’s yard. The exterior architecture is mainly Neoclassic, with Russian influence. Inside we can notice the Baroque decorations, the marble pillars, the wonderworking icon of Saint Spyridon, and the tombstone with the remains of Voivode Grigore III Ghica. The steeple features a progressive evolution: 1757 – the limestone entrance archway; 1765 – the drinking fountains with Baroque inscriptions in Turkish, Greek and Romanian; 1786 – the brick floor; 1804 – the bells’ room; 1830 – the Parisian clock; 1862 – the roof, shaped as the cattail basket worn as a hat by Saint Spyridon. (PHOTO : Cosmin CEUCĂ)