The Cetatuia Orthodox male monastery is located on the outskirts of the city of Iasi in north-eastern Romania near the border with Moldova. It was erected in the second half of the 17th century upon the order of the Moldovan ruler Gheorghe Duca. He was delighted by the Monastery of the Three Hierarchs in Iassy and he ordered similar decorations to be made on the building he founded. For many years the monastery served not only as a place of life and work of monks, but if necessary it served as a defensive fortress in which the inhabitants of surrounding towns and villages could protect themselves. The monks also ran a elementary school, a printing house, and during wars - a hospital for the wounded.
