The New Catholic Cathedral of Iași (Catedrala Romano-Catolică Nouă din Iași) is a modern Roman Catholic cathedral on Stephen the Great and Saint Boulevard in central Iași, standing behind the historic Old Catholic Cathedral. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven, its circular design and enormous dome make it a distinctive addition to the city’s religious architecture.
The old cathedral had served the Catholic Diocese of Iași since its establishment in 1884, but its limited size made it increasingly difficult to accommodate large religious celebrations. Plans for a more spacious building were discussed for decades, although construction only became possible after the fall of communism in 1989. Bishop Petru Gherghel laid the foundation stone in August 1990, beginning a project that would transform the courtyard behind the historic church into a much larger religious complex.
The original plans encountered difficulties when the local authorities required the new building to stand farther back from the boulevard and preserve the existing diocesan structures. Architect Gheorghe Hereș consequently revised the design, allowing construction to resume in 1992. The cathedral gradually took shape over the following years, with its lower level already accommodating religious services before the main prayer hall was ready. The building was finally consecrated on November 1, 2005, providing the Diocese with a spacious new setting for major celebrations while the old cathedral retained its religious function.
Hereș designed the cathedral around a circular plan, with a diameter of 38 meters and a central dome supported by four massive pillars. The building’s form evokes a crown, reflecting its dedication to Mary as Queen of Heaven, while a cross rising from the center of the dome brings its total height to 36 meters. Twenty-four pointed windows illuminate the upper structure, giving the large interior an open appearance. An elevated gallery follows the perimeter of the prayer hall, which can accommodate more than 1,500 worshippers.
Inside, the circular space draws attention toward the altar and a monumental mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven. Four smaller compositions illustrate episodes from her life, while the altar stands within a fish-shaped floor design, recalling an early Christian symbol. A marble pathway decorated with twelve stars leads toward it from the entrance, introducing the Marian imagery that continues throughout the building.
Looking upward, the dome’s twenty-four ribs converge around the monogram of Christ, beneath which hangs a chandelier reproducing the dome’s shape. The stained-glass windows are arranged in three levels, illustrating biblical themes including Creation, the covenants, the sacraments, and the mysteries of the Rosary. Fifteen mosaic Stations of the Cross follow the surrounding gallery, completing an interior in which architecture, light, and religious imagery form a unified decorative scheme.
