TRANSFIGURATION CATHEDRAL

From 1812, Tighina became a military centre of the authorities of Tsarist Russia. In 1814 the engineers of the fortress moved its walls and on the site of the former Turkish barracks it was decided to build the Cathedral of the Transfiguration. The project was initiated by the Archimandrite Ioanish. The Cathedral of the Transfiguration was built between 1815 and 1820. The canopy iconostasis of the cathedral was executed in 1826 in Odessa. The bell tower was erected in 1832 and the whole complex was completed in 1834. The cathedral follows a rectangular plan divided into narthex, nave and altar. Unlike other churches of this period, the nave is divided into three parts, and the apses have a rectangular shape, which is quite atypical for Moldavian religious architecture. The exterior of the building and the cross plan follow the classical Russian style with a dome placed on a hexagonal tower. The pointed domes are reminiscent of the helmets of medieval Russian warriors called bogatyrs. In 1934, paintings were made by the famous painter and sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală. From 1918 to 1944 (with the exception of the period of Soviet occupation from 1940-1941) the premises served as the headquarters of the Metropolitan of Bessarabia, which was dependent on the Romanian Orthodox Church. In 1948 the cathedral was placed under the protection of the State as a 19th century architectural monument. The external façades and the roof have recently been renovated.