+ Many of the cult edificies, belonging to various religious confessions, have been attested on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Therefore, in the neighborhood of the village of Butuceni archeologists discovered remains of a Gaeto-Dacian sanctuary of circular shape, dating, probably, from the III-IInd centuries BC. Already in the 50's of the XXth century the ruins of a mosque, mihrab, caravanserai and medieval Tartar city baths (also known as the city of Serh-al-Djedit [XIVth century]) were discovered not far from this sanctuary within the framework of the Orhei Vechi reservation. Muslim cult edifices used to exist in Tighina, former Ottoman raya, in Causeni (Bugeac Tartar capital), as well as in White Fortress, where a minaret constructed by Turks is still towered. At Rascov, Transdniestria, one may see the ruins of an imposing Jewish synagogue, which was constructed, perhaps, in the XVII-XVIIIth centuries. Edifices, owed to mosaic cult exist even today in Chisinau, Orhei, Soroca and many other urban localities of the Republic of Moldova.

As for the Christian religion, the greatest part of cult edifices of the Republic of Moldova was constructed in Christian traditions and it should be noted that this religion was embraced by the realm population for a long time ago, preceding the appearance of state organization. In comparison to other Christian peoples (Armenians, Russians, French) Romanians from Moldova, Romanian Kingdom or Transylvania do not have any chronological evidence that would mark their transition to Christianity. The foundation of feudal Romanian states takes place already in Christian environment.

It is facilely to suppose that the Christianity pervades on the territory of Basarabia already in the first centuries AD, having been brought by the missionaries from the south of Danube, and in particular by the ones from actual Dobrogea (former Scitia-Minor). Names of the saints like Ioan Casian, Sava Gotul, Niceta from Remesiana and 60 martyrs from Tomis assay the existence of an intense Christian life in this part of Europe. Concluding literary sources, serving as a proof of the aforementioned assertions may be found also in the famous treaty "De administrando imperio", belonging to the Byzantine Emperor Constantin Porfirogenet (Xth century AD). Speaking about the cities located on the right bank of Dniester (Aspron, Tungati, Cracnacati, etc.) the august author used to mention the existence of certain desolate rupestral churches within the region and some crosses carved in stone. The information reached from the Byzantine emperor is entirely confirmed by the existence of the forty rupestral monastic complexes, situated in Dniester basin.

From the typological point of view, cult edifices of the Republic of Moldova are extremely numerous in number. Apart from cells, rupestral monasteries and monastic complexes (monasteries) with summer and winter churches, chattels, refectories, chapels, belfries, monks' cells, monastery annexes, surrounding gardens), there are urban and rural parochial churches. Urban churches are mostly built of stone or are plastered outside by brick and have a joined or separate belfry. Several wooden churches may still be found in the villages, although along the XVIII-XIXth century the greatest part of churches was built of wood and was wattle-covered or planked outside. They are reduced in number, as the construction material is less resistant than stone and is frequently subject to conflagrations and mechanical damages. The most important churches located in urban localities may be attributed a status of metropolitan cathedrals. Chapels are present both in monasteries and urban localities, some of them having a commemorative value (such as the case of Chisinau Chapel, devoted to the memory of Bulgarian volunteers).