Lipovan wooden church in Chisinau (17th-20th centuries)

Abstract

The documents attest the presence in the city of Chisinau of the Lipovans (Russian Old Orthodox Believers) at the end of the 18th century. In the 18th century, the Chisinau’s Lipovans had their own wooden church, located at the south of the central market square of the city. It was seriously damaged by the fire which engulfed Chisinau during the military operations of 1788. Later, the wooden church was rebuilt in the same place. After the annexation of the eastern part of the Principality of Moldova by the Russian Empire, the Lipovan community was subjected to significant persecution by the tsarist authorities regarding to abridge freedom of their religion. This policy also had repercussion on the Lipovan church. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the church underwent several alterations and repairs that changed its appearance. In the middle of the 20th century, by the decision of the Soviet city authorities, this valuable object of the historical and cultural identity of the city of Chisinau was demolished.