In 1638, voivode Vasile Lupu founded a stone church, according to the inscription in Slavonic above the wall between the porch and the nave. It was built before the foundation of the Monastery of the Three Hierarchs and was consecrated on April 30, 1638 by Patriarch Kirill Lukaris of Constantinople.
On the site of today's monastery there was a noble estate where there was previously a wooden church. According to legend, Mrs. Tudosca hid in a tree hollow during a Tatar invasion, and was later found by voivode Vasile Lupu. As a sign of gratitude, the voivode decided to build a monastery.
The Slavonian Pisania was translated by the bishop Melchisedec Ștefănescu, mentioning the founders and the date of the church's consecration: April 30, 1638, by the patriarch Cyril.
After the dethronement of Vasile Lupu in 1653, the church was burned and demolished, being subsequently rebuilt several times, so that it no longer preserves the original style.
A white marble inscription on an exterior wall mentions that the church was restored in 1702 by the ruler Constantin Duca. The inscription was translated by Bishop Melchizedek.
The founder endowed the monastery with extensive lands by ruler Nicolae Mavrocordat. They stretched along the Căcaina river valley.
In 1809, Abbot Seraphim of the "Three Hierarchs" Monastery restored the church, placing a third church. In 1850, the church was painted.
In 1863, after the adoption of the Law on the secularization of monastic assets, the monastery was abolished, the church remaining as a church of Mir.
After 1960, the church was included in the perimeter of the Botanical Garden of Iasi and required restoration work due to neglect.
Between 1983-1986, the church was restored, consolidated and decorated with the contribution of the faithful and the support of the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Suceava. The painting was made by Vasile and Violeta Carp.
A large parish house was built, and later the access ways were improved and the cemetery systematized. The last parish priest was priest Teodor Mera.
In 2001, Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea reactivated the "St. Athanasius" Monastery in Podgorii - Iași as a nunnery. On April 29, 2001, the church received a second patron, Myrrh Sunday.
The heritage of the "St. Athanasius" Parish passed under the administration of the "St. Athanasius" Monastery, Podgoria Iași. The former parish was rezoned to the church in the village of Cârlig.
Three monks from the Galata Monastery initially came here, and the first abbess was Mother Teodora Vrânceanu. The parish house was extended to become cells for the nuns, who also run embroidery, tailoring and church painting workshops.
In April 2009, there were fourteen nuns living at the Podgoria Copou Monastery, the priest being the Protosingel Hrisostom Andrioaia.
Sursa: copou.mmb.ro
