Moldavian Monasteries

Monasteries and Convents of Moldova are of both the religious and doubtless cultural and historical importance. A monastery in the Eastern Orthodox Moldova is something more than just a monastic community and a center of culture and education like monasteries in Roman Catholic countries. Many Moldovan monasteries are the unique monuments commemorating the successes achieved by the local rulers at war; most of the monasteries were simultaneously fortresses protecting the community and the local residents from attacks of the Turks and Tatars.

The attitude of Moldovans towards their local monasteries is similar in a way to the Buddhist monastic tradition: any adult considers it his or her duty to make pilgrimages to a monastery/convent at regular intervals and even to live there for some time, if possible. As practically all convents and monasteries are located in extremely picturesque places of Moldova, autumn-time pilgrimages are quite popular.

There exist currently about 30 active monasteries, convents and habitats in Moldova, all of them within to Chisinau Diocese. In terms of history, all Moldovan monasteries and convents are categorized in 3 groups. The first group includes the oldest and largest monasteries and convents established in the central part of the country (Codru area): Varzaresti, Capriana, Hirbovet and Ghirjava. This area was called ‘the Bessarabian Thebais’.

The second group includes similarly old and impressive скальные монастыри located on the banks of the Dniester: Tipova, Orheiul Vechi, Saharna and Japca. The third group comprises so-called ‘new’ monasteries and convents established in late 18th – early 19th century: Curchi, Neamt Nou, Hincu and Monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity in Rudi.

Most of the monasteries and convents are open for visits throughout the year; all major monasteries and convents offer rooms for pilgrims. In addition many monasteries and convents offer guided tours with a monk/nun who speaks Romanian and Russian as a local guide.

You can go to any monastery either by booking a tour with a travel agency (practically all local travel agencies offer a guided tour of the Moldovan monasteries and convents) or on your own, taking a trip in a suburban coach (they leave from the Central Bus Terminal according to a fixed timetable) or in a private fixed-run minibus taxi (several of them leave from the Bus Terminal every hour).

source:http://www.allmoldova.com/