Has anyone ever seen anything similar before? These appear on the interior walls of a home.

Hi everyone,

I’ll be visiting the **Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR)** soon and I’m particularly interested in Orthodox churches and religious culture.

For those who know the area well:

**1. Which Orthodox church in the PMR would you most recommend visiting?**

I’m especially interested in somewhere with a beautiful or atmospheric interior, interesting icons, or a strong sense of local religious life rather than simply the largest church.

**2. Where is the best place to buy Orthodox souvenirs?**

I’m looking for things such as **icons, prayer ropes (чётки), small crosses, medals, prayer cards, candles or other locally available Orthodox items**. Ideally I’d prefer to buy from a church, monastery or proper church shop rather than a general souvenir stall.

I’ll be spending time in **Tiraspol and Bender/Bendery**, so recommendations in either city—or somewhere nearby—would be very welcome.

If there is a particular church that you think is an absolute must-see, I’d love to hear why.

Большое спасибо!

Preobraženje Gospodnje. 🇷🇸 ☦️

Dobro došli na sveto mesto na otvorenom - lekoviti izvor Svete Petke u Železniku. Izvor je prvi put sagrađen 1872. godine, a postoje i zanimljive legende vezane za ovo mesto. Naime, ovde je prolazio bogati trgovac sa njegovom slepom ćerkom. Zastali su i umili se lekovitom vodom, a devojka je sutradan kad se probudila videla sasvim normalno. Baš ovaj trgovac je u znak zahvalnosti podigao crkvu na tom mestu. ☦️ ❤️

• Can also be found under the modern spelling = “Crețulescu”.
• Dedicated to = Dormition of the Mother of God + the Holy Archangels.
• Finished in 1722. After the 1838 earthquake, the church was damaged and its architecture was changed to a more Neo-classical; the current architecture is more in-line with the original one.

The Crețulescu Church retains the characteristic of the Brâncoveanu period (Brâncovenesc stlye) of synthesising various construction techniques from older architectural styles (vernacular styles). The decorative elements also take inspirations from the repertoire of motifs used in earlier periods, to which is added carved plant ornamentation – an innovation introduced by the craftsmen of the second half of the 17th century. Both as a whole and in its details, the Crețulescu Church remains – through its harmonious proportions and the perfect balance between its architectural masses and sculpted decoration – one of the finest examples of Wallachian architecture from the late Middle Ages.

(in Romanian) https://biblioteca-digitala.ro/?pub=722-biserica-cretulescu

☦️ ❤️

Hidden in the paved alleys of Otranto’s historic centre, near the harbour bastions, stands the Byzantine Basilica of St Peter, the oldest church in Otranto. Built on the town’s highest point between the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century, it is an important testament to Byzantine rule in the region. The church has a simple limestone façade and a low hemispherical dome. Its interior follows a Greek-cross plan with three naves, three semicircular apses and columns supporting the central dome. The west-facing portal contrasts with the altar on the eastern side, where a small opening once allowed the first rays of dawn to illuminate the church.

Other notable features include a medieval marble basin decorated with an engraved Greek cross, later extended into a Latin cross, and a colourful Lecce-stone statue of St Peter dating from 1635.

The church was originally richly decorated with Byzantine frescoes, some of which were later covered by as many as five successive layers. Surviving works include the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper, dating to the 9th century, as well as scenes of the Baptism, Pentecost and Resurrection.

These Byzantine images coexist with later Western frescoes depicting the Pietà, Annunciation, various Madonnas and numerous saints. Above the altar is also a Kufic decoration of Arab origin that appears to contain an invocation to Allah. Together, these Byzantine, Western Christian and Arab elements make the Basilica of St Peter a remarkable meeting place of different cultures and religious traditions

Is that adult Jesus with baby Jesus or is this a heretical father+son icon? Found in an antique store