- Bărboi Church
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Church of Saints Peter and Paul Facade
Basic information Location Iaşi, Romania Affiliation Romanian Orthodox Church Architectural description Architect(s) Andrei Caridi Architectural style Byzantine layout, Neoclassical elements Groundbreaking 1841 Completed 1843 Specifications Materials stone, brick The Bărboi Church (Romanian: Biserica Bărboi), dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, is a Romanian Orthodox parish church located at 12 Bărboi Street, Iaşi, Romania.
Contents
History
The current church was raised on the foundation of a church built in 1613-15, dedicated to Saint Paraschiva and commissioned by the vornic Ioan Ursu Bărboi. In 1669 this church became a monastery under the authority of Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos. The church was seriously damaged in 1821 and demolished in 1829. Between 1841 and 1843, the logofăt Dimitrie Sturdza and his family members, with financial assistance from Vatopedi and the efforts of Metropolitan Grigore Irinopoleos, had the current church built on the site of the old one. The architect Andrei Caridi was assisted by the Greek master builders Atanasie and Gheorghe.[1] The resulting church resembles certain Athonite buildings in form and dimension,[2] and is the city's only church in the shape of a Greek cross.[3]
The church was shaken by the 1977 earthquake, and from 1980-88, the exterior was restored and the interior paintings and furnishings cleaned. Metropolitan Teoctist Arăpaşu began this project, and on 27 November 1988, by then Patriarch of All Romania, he re-consecrated the church.[1] It is listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments.[4]
Today, in addition to hosting religious services, the church is the headquarters of the local branch of the Romanian Orthodox Women's Society[5] and of the Romanian Orthodox Brotherhood; the latter undertakes philanthropic and cultural activities. Art exhibitions, awards ceremonies, book signings and similar activities take place on the premises. Moreover, every Lazarus Saturday since 1990, thousands of pilgrims have gathered at the church, carrying icons of Christ and making their way toward the Metropolitan Cathedral.[1]
Style
The church is rectangular in plan and made of valuable stone blocks alternating with rows of brick. To the east, north and south, there are small semicircular apses beneath the top of the walls, flanked by pilasters that rest on bases. The wide central dome, with Neo-Gothic and Romanesque elements, sits above a square base, and is surrounded by four much smaller domes with octagonal bases.[1] The main entrance features an imposing portal held up by eight Doric columns.[5] Above this is a classical facade that also features Doric columns.[2]
The church's spacious Byzantine interior is composed of three naves: a central one and two lateral ones, divided by columns of Carrara marble topped by Corinthian capitals. Looking inside, a harmony of arches can be observed: each pair of columns is linked by two or even four arches in perfect symmetry.[1] The iconostasis is carved from wood and gilt.[5] The walls are covered in paintings of saints (including military ones), Biblical scenes, the Madonna and Child and the Four Evangelists.[3]
An inscribed tablet records various phases in the church's history. Inside is the crypt of the noble Sturdza family (which includes the grave of Prince Ioan Sturdza), bathed in candlelight, next to that the poet Alecu Russo. The Bărboi Church is also where writer Ion Creangă served as deacon and lived in the parish house from 1863-65.[1]
The bell tower, built in 1726-33[6] by masons from Padua,[5] has four levels; clocks rest in the uppermost one (uniquely for the city)[5] and bells in the middle two. The lowest level has an exterior of quality stone, well worked and preserved; the other levels have a plaster exterior. It is through the lowest level that one enters the church grounds; the gate is made of decorated cast iron.[1] The tower once contained the library of the writer Costache Conachi.[2]
The 19th century parish house is based on traditional Moldavian monastic houses. It has two floors and a simple plan, with rooms arranged symmetrically about a central hallway.[1] Starting in 1834, it housed Moldavia's first girls' school, founded by Mihail Sturdza.[5]
Gallery
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h (Romanian) Biserica Bărboi, crestinortodox.ro
- ^ a b c (Romanian) Biserici şi mănăstiri, Iaşi City Hall
- ^ a b (Romanian) Biserica Bărboi, Iaşi City Hall Tourist Promotion Bureau
- ^ (Romanian) Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004: Judeţul Iaşi
- ^ a b c d e f (Romanian) Mănăstirea Bărboi, Iaşi County Directorate for Culture, Religious Affairs and National Cultural Patrimony
- ^ (Romanian) Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004: Judeţul Iaşi
Historical Balș House · Braunstein Palace · Calimachi Palace · Cantacuzino-Paşcanu Palace · Cuza Palace · Grand Hotel Traian · Grigore Sturdza Palace · Metropolitan Palace · Mihai Sturza Palace · Neuschotz Palace · Palace of Culture · Roset-Roznovanu PalaceCultural Art Museum · Dosoftei House · Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia · George Topîrceanu Memorial House · Iaşi National Theatre · Ion Creangă Bojdeuca · Luceafărul Theatre · Mihai Codreanu Memorial House · Mihai Eminescu Museum · Mihail Sadoveanu Memorial House · Moldavia's History Museum · Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra · Natural History Museum · Nicolae Gane Memorial House · Otilia Cazimir Memorial House · Petru Poni Memorial House · Pogor House · Radu Cernătescu Memorial House · Romanian National Opera · Science and Technology Museum · Tătăraşi Athenaeum · Theatre Museum · Union MuseumMonasteries,
churches
and synagoguesArmenian Church · Aroneanu Monastery · Barnovschi Church · Bărboi Church · Bârnova Monastery · Bucium Monastery · Cetăţuia Monastery · Frumoasa Monastery · Galata Monastery · Golia Monastery · Great Synagogue · Hlincea Monastery · Metropolitan Cathedral · Old Catholic Cathedral · Old Metropolitan Cathedral · Royal Saint Nicholas Church · Saint Sava Church · Saint Spiridon Church · Socola Monastery · Trei Ierarhi Monastery ·Educational Alexandru Ioan Cuza University · Central University Library · Gheorghe Asachi Technical University · George Enescu University of Arts · Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy · Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary MedicineStatues
and monumentsAlexandru Dimitrie Xenopol Statue · Alexandru Ioan Cuza Statue · Attacking Cavalryman Statue · Dosoftei Statue · Gheorghe Asachi Statue · Grigore III Ghica Monument · Independence Statue · Mihai Eminescu Statue · Mihail Kogălniceanu Statue · Miron Costin Statue · Stephen the Great Statue · Union Monument · Vasile Alecsandri StatueParks, squares and
natural landmarksCentral Market Square · Ciric Park · Copou Park · Exhibition Park · Iaşi Botanical Garden · Independence Square · Mihai Eminescu Square · Palace Square · Podu Roș Square · Theatre Square · Union Square · University Square · Voievozilor SquareSports venues Shopping Era Shopping Park · Felicia Shopping Centre · Hala Centrală · Iulius Mall · Moldova Mall · Palas MallInfrastructure By type Attractions · Media in IaşiCategories:- Religious buildings completed in 1843
- 19th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings
- Places of worship in Iaşi
- Eastern Orthodox Churches in Romania
- Visitor attractions in Iaşi
- Historic monuments in Iaşi County
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