Wooden Church of Hirișeni, Chisinau

The Wooden Church of Hirișeni, also named Wooden Church of the Dormition of Mary in Hirișeni, is a historical monument of significant religious and cultural importance. Built in 1642, the church was initially located in the Hîrjauca Monastery and was later moved to Hirișeni commune of Telenești District. Although a stone church was built in the commune in 1928, the wooden church continued to be used as a place for paraklesis near the cemetery.

By the turn of the 21st century, the church was in a dilapidated state, with no roof and damaged wooden walls. The Ethnography Museum of Chișinău negotiated with the people of Hirișeni to relocate the church to the capital city for restoration. The restoration work began in 2009, and the church was sanctified in the autumn of 2011 with the patron saint of Assumption of Mary.

The restoration team preserved as many original elements as possible and used the original woodwork, processed with special materials for improved durability. The church's roof was built from scratch. With a height of 27 meters, the Wooden Church of the Dormition of Mary in Hirișeni is the largest wooden church in the country and the oldest religious historical monument of the Republic of Moldova. The church's Northern Moldovan style is similar to the churches of Bukovina, making it a unique example of the region's religious architecture.