Wonder how a serene oasis thrives amid Bucharest’s vibrant heart? That’s the Stavropoleos Monastery for you. Today we’ll uncover its secrets.
The Stavropoleos Monastery is a peaceful retreat. It stands as a testament to Bucharest’s rich history and cultural identity. Known also as Stavropoleos Church, it’s an Eastern Orthodox nunnery. The church’s architecture showcases the beautiful Brâncovenesc style.
Let’s journey back to 1724. It was then that the archimandrite Ioanichie Stratonikeas built this church. He was a Greek monk from Pogoniani. Prince Nicholas Mavrocordatos of Wallachia reigned at the time. Ioanichie ingeniously integrated the church and a monastery within his inn’s grounds. The inn’s income sustained the monastery. This practice was quite common back then.
In 1726, Ioanichie became the metropolitan of Stavropolis. Consequently, the monastery adopted the name Stavropoleos. It was named after the old seat. Ioanichie died in 1742 and was buried in his church.
Sadly, the inn and monastery annexes faced demolition in the late 19th century. Earthquakes took their toll. The dome collapsed. Yet, resilience prevailed. The dome’s paintings were restored in the early 20th century.
Today, the church endures. A 20th-century building complements it. This building houses a library. It also has a conference room. Within, you’ll find a collection of old icons and ecclesiastical objects. These date back to the 18th century. Fragments of wall paintings are also preserved. These were salvaged from churches demolished during the communist regime. Architect Ion Mincu designed this new structure.
Father Iustin Marchiş has pastored the church since 1991. He was the first hieromonk in a century. The community dedicates itself to worship. They also renovate old books, icons, and sacerdotal clothes. The church choir keeps Byzantine music alive. They sing in a rare style for Romanian churches. It involves a single voice part. This is sustained by a prolonged sound called ison.
The Stavropoleos Monastery library holds over 8,000 books. These cover theology, Byzantine music, arts, and history. You’ll find writings from church fathers, the Bible, and historical texts. There are studies on Byzantine art and Romanian history too. Art historian Vasile Drăguț donated some books. He was the former rector of the Bucharest University of Arts.
The library boasts a significant collection of old books. It has more than 80 manuscripts and 400 printed works. These are in Romanian, Greek, and Church Slavonic. The Byzantine music books form Romania’s largest collection. Two byzantologists, Sebastian Barbu-Bucur and Titus Moisescu, donated most of them. The monastery is digitizing its old books for a virtual library.
The Stavropoleos Byzantine Choir performs neo-Byzantine music. This is based on works by 19th-century Romanian psalmodists. Archdeacon Gabriel Constantin Oprea leads the choir. He also teaches Byzantine music. The group has performed widely. They also release their music on CDs.
As you leave the Stavropoleos Monastery, carry with you the echoes of its history. Remember the resilience of its spirit. May its serene beauty linger in your thoughts.