Romania's famous monasteries - Cetățuia Monastery

 Cetățuia Monastery   

After I partially visited the city of Iași, the next target was the Cetățuia Monastery, founded by Duca Vodă in the 17th century. The monastery is located in Iași, on Cetățuia street no. 1. It is a historical monument of regional importance, it has a community of monks. From here you can see the panorama of Iași.

Cetățuia Monastery is located on one of the hills of Iași, in the Nicolina area. The access road is from Poitiers Blvd. The hill, 1.5 km long, can be climbed on foot or by car, the road being paved. The monastery is fortified, it is surrounded by a stone wall, with defense towers at the corners. On the thick wall of the monastery you can still see the places for guns and cannons.

I entered the monastery under the bell tower. I really liked the well-maintained courtyard, the impeccable lawn and the paved alleys that invite us to discover the architectural complex. The place of worship is one of the most important monuments of feudal art.

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery 

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

In the courtyard there is the Church of Saints Peter Paul, the Gothic Hall, the Royal House, the Cell Body and an old bell, which is placed at the entrance, next to the bell tower on which is inscribed in Greek and Latin. From the brochure I bought I found out that the Monastery is dedicated to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and was built according to plans similar to the Monastery of the Holy Three Hierarchs.

The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is not very large, but it impresses with its painting, even if it is quite blurred. As you enter the church, you can see the Moldovan ox, the coat of arms of the country (Moldova), carved on the door. The plan of the church building is in the shape of a cross and has an interior divided into a porch, narthex, nave and altar. Here we also find the graves of the founder Duca Vodă of his daughter, brother or son. Unfortunately, we could not take photos, it seems that to do photography is not allowed in the church.

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

Another old building in the courtyard of the Citadel Monastery is the old building meant to house the ruler and his family, called the Royal House, currently a church museum. Unfortunately, I could not enter. It is said that once there were secret exits, which led outside the premises.

On the southern side of the enclosure we find the Gothic Hall "Anastasia Doamna", which houses a museum of feudal art. On the commemorative plaque on the wall of the Gothic room we can find part of the history of the monastery, but also landmarks in the history of the country, with the following inscription:

„Cetățuia Monastery, built by Duca Vodă in 1669, former summer residence of the voivodes and metropolitans of Moldavia, working shelter of Metropolitan Dosoftei and scholar Dimitrie Cantemir, also having a printing house, had recently become abandoned, especially the Palace The Gothic Hall and the household were in complete ruin.

    Thus, through the perseverance of I.P.S. Dr. Pimen Georgescu, Metropolitan of Moldavia, the old buildings were rebuilt by the Historical Monuments Commission, being inaugurated with special solemnity in October 1911 by the great King Carol I, who came to Iasi with the royal family, to celebrate the University's jubilee. the foundation of the new monastery cells.

    The aviator Aurel Vlaicu, who flew on the device invented by him, leaving the Normal School "Vasile Lupu" near Iași and making several turns around the hill with the Citadel Monastery in the admiration of foreign scholars and the crowd of people.

    This was the first aviation flight to Iasi.

    The church as well as the monastery rooms, which served as a hospital for the wounded of the Great War in which our army under King Ferdinand I. the Brave, fought great sacrifices for the liberation of the brethren and the unification of the nation, were again repaired during the young man's reign. King Michael I, of the same Commission of Historical Monuments, the president being the great scholar and teacher of the nation, Nicolae Iorga.

    1930 ”

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia Monastery

 Cetățuia Monastery from Iași is an Orthodox monastery of monks, founded in the 17th century by the voivode Gheorghe Duca (1665-1666, 1668-1672 and 1678-1683). Situated on a high hill in the southern part of Iasi. The Cetățuia Monastery dominates the landscape through its slender silhouette, guarded by an imposing tower and surrounded by a weathered stone wall.

It was built from the beginning as a medieval fortified complex capable of providing the ruler and the boyars with a support for an armed resistance against the invaders. There was a printing house with Greek letters, brought from Venice. Reached a ruin at the end of the 19th century, the monastery was restored in the interwar period at the initiative of the historian Nicolae Iorga.

In ancient times, inside the monastery there were several temporary auxiliary buildings (barracks, stables,, barns) arranged along the curtains. The middle of the enclosure had to be left free to allow the movement of people from the garrison and to put the horses in the convoys.

The ensemble of Cetățuia Monastery has been included on the List of historical monuments in Iași County since 2015.

Although I was upset that I could not see more of the city of Iasi, the visit to the Citadel Monastery brought me peace and quiet.

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