CHURCH OF SAINT PANTELEIMON (BISERICA SF. PANTELIMON)

The famous architect Alexandru Bernardazzi was the designer of this church in 1891, combining Neo-Byzantine and Russian architecture. It is also called "Greek Church", because of the origin of its founders Victor and Ion Sinadino (honorary citizens of Chişinău). The land was donated by their mother Alexandra Zotti on 17 November 1887. One of the characteristics of this building are the pairs of arches cutting the central space. The interior space is thus composed of a room with a cruciform floor plan, raised by a massive dome (with beautiful frescoes on the ceiling), supported by the intersection of the four arches.this church remained in use until 1944, before being closed and transformed into a building material depot, a film depot and then into an exhibition and wine tasting room. The church was finally worshiped in 1992. The church follows a cross plan, with sides flanked by vaulted niches. The elegance of this chapel is the choice of Bernardazzi, who worked the façade by alternating horizontal lines of white stone and red bricks, giving it a certain modern look. In the basement of the church are the twenty-six tombs of the Sinadino family. Finally, the ensemble is protected by a wrought iron fence, interspersed with stone columns. This building is a real gem in the capital. At the entrance, don't forget to cover your head and dress decently.