Sucevița Monastery is an
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...
convent situated in the Northeastern part of
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
. It is situated near the
Suceviţa River, in the village
Sucevița, 18 km away from the city of
Rădăuţi,
Suceava County. It is located in the southern part of the historical region of
Bukovina (northwestern
Moldavia). It was built in 1585 by
Ieremia Movilă,
Gheorghe Movilă and
Simion Movilă.
The architecture of the church contains both
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
and
Gothic elements, and some elements typical to other
painted churches of northern Moldavia. Both interior and exterior walls are covered by mural paintings, which are of great artistic value and depict biblical episodes from the
Old and
New Testament
The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...
. The paintings date from around 1601, which makes Sucevița one of the last monasteries to be decorated in the famous Moldavian style of exterior paintings.
The interior court of the monastic ensemble is almost square (100 by 104 meters) and is surrounded by high (6 m), wide (3 m) walls. There are several other defensive structures within the ensemble, including four towers (one on each corner). Sucevița was a princely residence as well as a fortified monastery. The thick walls today shelter a museum that presents an outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The tomb covers of Ieremia and Simion Movilă – rich portraits embroidered in silver thread – together with ecclesiastical silverware, books and illuminated manuscripts, offer eloquent testimony to Sucevița's importance first as a manuscript workshop, then as a printing center.
In 2010, the monastery has been inscribed by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
on its list of
World Heritage Sites, as one of the
Painted churches of Moldavia. It is also the second major attraction along the
Via Transilvanica long-distance trail, after
Putna Monastery.
Burials
*
Ieremia Movilă
Gallery
Image:Ihopulele EOS 30D0210 Sucevita.jpg, View of the ensemble, with the walls in the background
File:Sucevita.jpg, Different angle
Image:Suczawica (Sucevita), krzyż na dziedzińcu klasztornym.jpg, Cross the courtyard of the monastery
File:Suczawica (Sucevita), monastyr, fragment fresku, stworzenie Ewy.jpg, The fresco in the monastery
File:Mănăstirea Suceviţa5.jpg, One of the four towers
File:Suceviţa.PNG, Entrance
See also
*
Alexander the Good
*
Churches of Moldavia
References
External links
Sucevița Monastery*Romania's Painted Churches
Mănăstirea Suceviţa (pe TravelWorld.ro)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sucevita Monastery
Christian monasteries established in the 16th century
1585 establishments in Europe
Churches of Moldavia
16th-century establishments in Moldavia
16th-century architecture in Romania
16th-century Romanian Orthodox monasteries
17th-century Romanian Orthodox monasteries