Moldova is a landlocked country in the middle of Romania and Ukraine, but that doesn’t make the country less beautiful. Prut and Dniester rivers flow through the country while the magnificent Moldavian Plateau spread all across the land. A young country that gained its independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union, Moldova has a rich culture that goes back hundreds of years into the past. As an institution where people live in a religious vow, monasteries are historically significant establishments and beautiful icons to explore. From the oldest to the newest with fascinating architecture, here are amazing monasteries to visit in Moldova.
1. Noul Neamt Monastery
In a Bessarabia village named Chitcani, a monastery controlled by the breakaway nation Transnitria opens its door to everyone who wants to tour the religious complex. Noul Neamt Monastery on the shore of Dniestr River is an all-male monastery founded in 1861 that serve as a successor to Neamt Monastery in medieval Moldova. When visiting the area, it is possible to cross the border from Moldova to Transnistria, so keep your passport at hand. Closing in on Noul Neamt Monastery, you can see a 70 meters (229.6 feet) bell tower as the tallest building in the complex from afar. In the center, there are four churches, namely Summer Holy Ascension Cathedral, Winter Assumption Church, Saint Nicholas Seminary Church, and Holy Cross Refectory. Explore the diverse structures, sizes, and colors of every church.
Book Tours : Accessible and Interesting Tour in Transnistria
2. Ciuflea Monastery
All of the monasteries in this list can be found far in a peaceful place among the Moldovan beautiful nature. Ciuflea Monastery is an exception because the religious complex can be found in the middle of Chisinau. Through the hustle bustle city life of people and vehicles, the monastery still serves its purpose as a place of worship like the others in this list. Made of stones and golden domes, the official name of the place is Monastery of Saint Theodor Tiron that was built by two brothers Theodor and Anastasie Ciuflea between 1854 and 1858. A sacred place in the heart of a busy city, monks and priests of Ciuflea Monastery still perform exorcism for those who are in need.
Ciuflea Monastery
Address: Ciuflea, 12, Chisinau 2001, Moldova
Opening hours: Sat, Mon - Thu: 9am - 5pm (closed on Fri & Sun)
3. Rudi Monastery
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Return to the Moldovan countryside, a journey of 170 km (105.6 mi) from the capital will take you to a village named Rudi, where you will find the Rudi Monastery. Among the woods in Rudi-Arionești, the monastery was first built in 1777 but finished in 1828! The church that dedicated itself to the Holy Trinity has an architecture like no other on this list because it exhibits ancient Moldovan religious style.
Rudi Monastery
Address: Rudi, Moldova
Website: Rudi Monastery
4. Căpriana Monastery
A cradle of Moldovan culture through its language, music, and architecture, Căpriana Monastery was built in 1429 but was ruined in the Soviet era. In 1989 the Eastern Orthodoxy monastery was reconstructed and finally opened for public in 2008. Located in Căpriana, Strășeni District, the place of peace can be found in the forest of Codru encircling the building and a lake that adds to its beauty. There are four main places that you must visit within the complex. First is the Assumption of Madonna Church that was built in the 14th century, the second one is the 19th-century made Saint Nicholas Church, and the third one is Saint George Church that was built in 1907 in a late Baroque architectural style. Other than the three churches, Căpriana Library is also a place to explore with manuscripts and artifacts that can be accessed to further your knowledge about Moldovia’s past.
5. Japca Monastery
On the shore of Dniestr or Nistru river at Floresti district, 10 km (6.2 mi) from Camenca, lies Japca Monastery. With the convent of nuns and monks going about their daily ritual, this monastic settlement is the only one in Moldova that never stopped operating since it was built. Explore the area, visit the main church made of stones. It has three altars) namely Resurrection, Transfiguration, and Crucifixion. Anyone can visit Japca Monastery as long as they follow the rules. A couple of them have banned the use of phones and electricity.
Japca Monastery
Address: Florești District, Moldov
Website: Japca Monastery
6. Tipova Cave Monastery
Don’t tip over in Tipova Cave Monastery while walking through the rocky terrain! Standing tall on the cliffs above the Dniestr river, the monastery has three holy chambers and monastic cells for the monks. In 1776 Tipoca Cave Monastery flourished and expand into large parts. When the Soviet era came, the monastery was destroyed. Luckily the ruins were protected in 1975 and in 1994, 3 years after independence, religious activities began yet again. Located in Tipova village, 100 km (62.1 mi) north of Moldova, the capital with the name Chisinau, has a magnificent view of the Dniestr river, rocky surroundings, and also the country landscape through a height. The entrance fee is 10 MDL (0.6 USD).
7. Hâncu Monastery
A steward and a father, Mihail Hâncu built a monastery for one of her daughters in 1678 who became a nun. Named after him, Hâncu Monastery that was created for nuns was closed in 1949 but resumed its religious activities in 1992 or one year after the Moldovan independence. With water springs and forests that surround the monastery, the place is situated in Codrii Natural Reserve, Nisporeni.
Hâncu Monastery
Address: Moldova
Website: Hâncu Monastery
8. Harjauca Monastery
On a hill and on the shore of Harjauca River, Mănăstirea Hîrjauca or Harjauca Monastery is among the four Calaras Cross monasteries in the Calarasi region, Moldova. Created in 1740, churches and cells can be found in the monastery. Just like the other monastery in Moldova, Soviet closed down the complex but in the year 1993 Harjauca Monastery was re-established. It was completely restored in 1998.
The Harjauca Monastery
Address: Harjauca Monastery RdMindra, Moldova
9. Curchi Monastery
The natural beauty of Moldova can be seen all across the land, one of it is Orhei Forest where Curchi Monastery near Curchi Village resides. White humble churches with amazing interior can be seen in the monastery that is surrounded by Vatic River with trees and hill that compliment the spiritual place of peace.
Founded in 1773-1775, some of churches to explore in the area are a wooden church with the name of St. Demetrius and the unfinished chuch of St. Nicholas. The main church is cathedral Nasterea Domnului that was created in 1872 with a baroque architectural style. Inspired by the church of St. Andrew in Kiev, Ukraine, the 57 meter (187 feet) cathedral dome is the highest one in Moldova.
10. Saharna Monastery
Being a popular place for pilgrimage in Moldova, this monastery can be found near Saharna Village at Saharna River. Through rocky terrain with greenery on every side, the monastery can be found on top of a cliff. Known as Saharna Monastery because of the area, its actual name is Holy Trinity Monastery or Holy Trinity Monastery of Saharna. Founded in 1776, artifacts, such as St. Cuvios Macarie relics and a footprint that is claimed to be the footprint of St. Maria, are kept in the monastery. There are also archaeological sites from the Iron Age and a Geto-Dacians headland fortress.
Saharna Monastery
Address: 5431, Saharna, Moldova
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 6:45am - 8:30pm; Fri : 12am - 2:45am, 6:45am-2:45am
A journey through Moldovan history
Being the oldest buildings in Moldova, the monasteries on this list are icons that can take you to the past or even learn history through its buildings, libraries, and artifacts. From the oldest monasteries like Căpriana Monastery with its library full of Moldovan history, a place of peace without modernity like Japca Monastery, to the monastery among the hustle-bustle of the nation’s capital. History, culture, and even the natural wonder of the country awaits.
History
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