In the Footsteps of Faith: The Monasteries of Iași

Tour Details

This pilgrimage includes the following monasteries: Vlădiceni Monastery, Cetățuia Monastery, Golia Monastery, and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

 

Departure & Return Location:

• 33 Circului Street (Chișinău Circus)
   

Departure Time:

• 06:00

Price Includes:

• Round-trip transportation
  Guide
  Visits to the monasteries mentioned in the program

Price Does Not Include:

• Personal expenses

Itinerary

• Departure from Chișinău at 06:00
• Attend the Holy Liturgy at Vlădiceni Monastery
• Cetățuia Monastery (veneration of the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God “Ivirita”)
• Golia Monastery
• Metropolitan Cathedral – veneration of the relics of Saint Parascheva, the patron saint of Moldova

Travel Tips

• Women should wear skirts and have their heads covered.
• It is recommended to bring a light packed snack.

Did You Know?

• From 1860 until September 1872, Ion Creangă served as a deacon in several churches in Iași. Due to family issues and a conflict with the ecclesiastical authorities of that time, on October 10, 1872, Deacon Ion Creangă was dismissed from the clergy.

Description

Vlădiceni Monastery

Vlădiceni Monastery is a monastery for monks located on the outskirts of Iași, in the village of Vlădiceni (part of the suburban commune Tomești), on the site known in chronicles as “Poiana Vlădicăi.”
The church was built on the site of two older churches: the White Church (15th century) and the Stratenia Church (17th century). The current building was constructed between 1833 and 1839 according to the plans of architects Gustav Freywald, Bucher, and Mihail Singurov. On May 23, 1857, the central dome collapsed, leaving the church in a precarious state for the next two decades. From 1880 to 1887, under the initiative of Metropolitan Iosif Naniescu, the construction was restored. The consecration of the Cathedral on April 23, 1887, became a national event attended by King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth.

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery, situated on the hill bearing the same name, overlooks the city with its slender silhouette. Initially designed as a medieval fortified complex, it was founded by Prince Gheorghe Duca. The monastery served as a refuge for several Moldavian rulers, including Dimitrie Cantemir during the Russo-Turkish War (1710–1713) and Mihai Racoviță during his conflict with the Austrian army of Captain Ferentz (1717). In the 18th century, part of the western wall collapsed due to a landslide, and the monastery was later used as a depot by the Turkish army (1788) and as a military hospital by the Russian armies (1788–1792, 1806–1812). In 1822, the complex was destroyed by a fire when the Turks set nearby houses ablaze.

Golia Monastery

Golia Monastery and the Church of Saint Nicholas Domnesc (built by Stephen the Great; in this church, almost all the rulers of Moldavia were anointed and crowned, making it a royal church). Between 1866 and 1871, the great writer Ion Creangă lived here with his wife Ileana and their son Constantin while serving as a deacon. The house in which Ion Creangă lived was built at the end of the 17th century and served for a long time as the monastery treasury, where all the revenues of Moldavian monasteries dedicated to Mount Athos were collected. In the 19th century, deacons and cantors serving in the church lived here. The room where Ion Creangă stayed has been turned into a museum that preserves, among other exhibits, his original deacon’s vestment (stihar).

Metropolitan Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, dedicated to “Saint Parascheva,” “The Presentation of the Lord,” and “Saint George the Great Martyr,” is the largest place of worship in Iași (and among the largest in Romania), serving as the cathedral of the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina. It was built in two stages: first between 1833–1839, and then (after severe damage in 1857) between 1880–1887. The cathedral is a monumental rectangular building with four detached towers at the corners. The architectural style combines late Italian Renaissance forms with predominantly Baroque decorative elements. The Viennese architects Johann and Gustav Freywald designed the new church in a neoclassical style, similar to other monumental European churches of that era.