Saint Mary Queen of Iași and the Assumption: the two Marian cathedrals of Moldova
In the heart of Iași, the historic capital of the Romanian Moldova, two Marian cathedrals share the same enclosure next to the episcopal palace: the old one, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin (raised in brick between 1782 and 1789 on an earlier Franciscan temple), and the new cathedral of Santa Maria Reina, solemnly consecrated in November 2005. Both are the spiritual home of the Catholics of Moldova, including the Csangos, a community of medieval Hungarian origin that has preserved the Catholic faith for centuries on land of the Orthodox majority.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- The church of the Asunción, blessed in 1789, was a cathedral of the diocese of Iași from its creation in 1884 to 2005; Baroque style, with its unique cylindrical tower and three marble altars, is declared a historic monument of Romania.
- The new cathedral of Santa Maria Reina rose after decades of waiting: the communist regime prevented the project until 1989. The first stone was put on August 15, 1990, the first Mass was held in the crypt on Christmas Day of 1993, and the 2005 dedication brought together 23 bishops, more than 200 priests and more than 3,500 faithful.
- Pope Francis celebrated Mass in this cathedral on June 1, 2019, during his apostolic visit to Romania, on a day dedicated especially to the Mother of God and the families of Moldova.
- The cathedral keeps the memory of Blessed Anton Durcovici (1888- 1951), Bishop of Iași imprisoned by the communist regime and killed in prison in 1951, witness to the fidelity of this local Church to Christ and his Mother.
Santa Maria Reina
Two Marian cathedrals in the same enclosure - the 18th century Asunción and St. Mary Queen, consecrated in 2005 - guard the faith of the Catholics of the Romanian Moldova, including the csangos of Hungarian root, who have prayed to the Virgin for centuries in an environment of Orthodox majority.
"O Holy Mary Queen, Mother to heaven, keep your children of Moldova in the faith of ever.
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