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).

The list of Moldova’s monasteries and convents:

1. Monastery of St. Michael in Chistelnita (for males)
2. Monastery of the Ascension of our Lord in Giirjava (for males)
3. Convent of the Ascension of our Lord in Japca (for females)
4. Monastery of the Ascension of our Lord in Neamt Nou, Chitcani (for males)
5. Monastery of the Patronage of the Mother of God in Cosauti (for males)
6. Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Curchi (for males)
7. Convent of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Raceula (for females)
8. Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God (Habitation) in Tipova (for males)
9. Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Hirbovet (for males)
10. Convent of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Calarasi (for females)
11. Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Capriana (for males)
12. Convent of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Cusila (for females)
13. Convent of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Tabor (for females)
14. Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Frumosi (for males)
15. Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Tiganesti (for males)
16. Convent of the Icon of the Mother of God "Consolation of All the Afflicted" in Veverita (for females)
17. Monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity in Rudi (for males)
18. Monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity in Saharna (for males)
19. Convent of Holy Martyr St. Parasceva surnamed "Friday" in Hincu (for females)
20. Monastery of Holy Martyr St. George the Victorious in Zloti (for males)
21. Convent of Holy Martyr St. George the Victorious in Suruceni (for females)
22. Convent of Holy Martyr Demetrius in Varzaresti (for females)
23. Monastery of St. Elijah the Prophet in Nicoreni (for males)
24. Convent of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Wives Martha and Maria in Haji-Musa (for females)
25. Monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Dobrusa (for males)
26. Monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Condrita (for males)
27. Convent of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Hirova (for females)
28. Habitation of Holy Martyr Demetrius in Pripiceni-Curchi
29. Habitation of Sts. Peter and Paul, Prime Apls, in Bocancea (for females)

Diocesan administration:
Address: 119, Bucuresti street, MD-2004 Chisinau
Secretariat - Phone/Fax: (+37322)232929
Metropolitan’s secretary, reverend protoiereus Vadim CHEIBAS
URL: http://www.mitropolia.md