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The National Art Museum of Moldova
The Church of the "Dormition of the Mother of God" in Căușeni is a national architectural monument listed in the Register of State-Protected Monuments of the Republic of Moldova under no. 122. According to the founding inscription, the church was built in 1763. However, some authors date it back to the 16th century, considering that between 1763 and 1767 it was only reconstructed and painted by the artists Stanciul Radu and Voicul.
The interior of the Church of the "Dormition of the Mother of God" is richly decorated with frescoes in the style of the late Hurez school, featuring a warm color palette outlined against the blue background of the walls.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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The "Dormition of the Mother of God" Church in Căușeni reflects the influence of Byzantine art in its iconography. The religious frescoes include depictions of the church's founders and Moldavian rulers, such as Nicolae and Constantin Mavrocordat, Grigore Alexandru Ghica, Grigore Callimachi, and the Metropolitan of Proilavia, Daniil, among others. The preservation of these paintings is unique in the region east of the Prut River.
The Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga, who visited the church at the beginning of the 20th century, remarked that it "seemed to be an old mosque converted." The church's layout, architectural elements, and construction techniques are of Balkan origin, making it the best-preserved medieval church (in its original form) in southern Bessarabia.
According to historian Ion Xenofontov, the church has several unique features:
Following the final removal of Muslim administration from southern Bessarabia (1807), a stone tower crowned with a cross was built above the nave.
A distinct feature of the church is its semi-sunken foundation, which sets it apart from other ecclesiastical constructions of the era.
Above the exterior entrance door, there is a founding inscription carved in Greek, mentioning Metropolitan Daniil of Proilavia (Brăila) and the ruler Grigore Callimachi (1761–1764, 1767–1769). Another inscription above the interior door states:
"This holy and divine church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Holy Virgin, was previously made of wood, old and entirely ruined, but His Holiness Metropolitan Daniil did not allow this divine work to remain in ruins."
Since April 5, 1983, the Church of the "Dormition of the Mother of God" has held the status of a museum-monument under the administration of the National Museum of Art of Moldova. After extensive restoration, it was inaugurated in March 2024.
The U.S. Embassy, through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, allocated a total budget of $1,069,603 starting in 2016 for the church’s restoration. The project, implemented by the NGO Center for Archaeological Research of the Republic of Moldova, included:
The Moldovan Government contributed an additional $324,000 for infrastructure and landscaping, ensuring the church's significance as a national architectural monument.
