The Metropolitan Cathedral
Patron: Saint Parascheva (October, 14), Întâmpinarea Domnului (February, 2), Saint George (April, 23)
Address: 16, Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt Blvd.
Bishop Veniamin Costache is the one who had the idea of building a monumental church in Iași. The plan for this church was designed by the architects Johann Freywald and Bucher. The works took place first between 1833-1839 and then between 1880-1887, this time following the plans of the Romanian architect, Alexandru Orascu. The painting of the cathedral was done by Gheorghe Tattarescu.
It was inaugurated on April 23, 1887; King Carol I and Bishop Iosif Naniescu also took part.
In 1889 the relics of Saint Paraschiva were brought from Three Hierarchs Church to the new cathedral.
To the left from the esplanade, in front o the Cathedral, there is the edifices that accomodates the Metropolitan Chancery. On the lower ground floor there are the Metropolitan Archive and the Historical Section of the Dumitru Staniloaie Metropolitan Library. From the entrance hall going right one finds the entrance to the Dr. Iustin Moisescu Festivity Hall, wich hosts periodically conferences, symposio and other important events in the life of the Mitropolitanate. It is a tall and large 250 seat hall, naturally illuminated, trough 12 large and 12 small windows, symetrically place toward east and west, or by means of the artificial light generated by 72 light bulbs set in hexagonal recesses
