the painted monasteries of bucovina, romania

7/27/2019 The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, Romania

1/8

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

Arbore Chuch Humor Monastery Moldovita Monastery Patrauti Church Probota Church St. George Church Sucevita Monastery Voronet Monastery Original Fresco Making

Techniques

Essentials: Transportation Accommodation

The Painted Monasteries Highlights

Among the most picturesque treasures of Romania are the Painted Monasteries of

Bucovina (in northeastern Romania). Their painted exterior walls are decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century frescoes

featuring portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, and heaven and hell.

Deemed masterpieces of Byzantine art, these churches are one-of-a-kind architectural sites in Europe. Far from being merely

wall decorations, the murals represent complete cycles of religious murals. The purpose of the frescoes was to make the story of

the Bible and the lives of the most important Orthodox saints known to villagers by the use of images. Their outstanding

composition, elegant outline and harmonious colors blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape.

Visitors to the Painted Monasteries will often witness a nun or a monk beating a long beam with a mallet, tapping out a call to prayer.

The tradition started during the siege of Moldova by the Ottoman Empire when the Turks forbade the ringing of bells. The striking of

wooden or metal bars, known as toaca, replaced the ringing of bells and thus, became a tradition, reinforced by the fact that in times of

war, bells were often melted down to make cannons.

Whether you are interested in religion, history, art or architecture, you will be intrigued by the construction and decor

exterior and interior of these edifices.

The best-preserved are the monasteries in Humor, Moldovita, Patrauti, Probota, Suceava, Sucevita, and Voronet. Another, a

small church, is located in the village of Arbore. Seven of the churches were placed on UNESCOs World Heritage list in 1993. The

eighth, Sucevita, is awaiting sanction to be added on the list.
http://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#arborehttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#arborehttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#humorhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#humorhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#moldovitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#moldovitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#patrautihttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#patrautihttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#probotahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#probotahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#stgeorgehttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#stgeorgehttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#sucevitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#sucevitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#voronethttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#voronethttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#techniqueshttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#techniqueshttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#techniqueshttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#transportationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#transportationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#accommodationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#accommodationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#accommodationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#transportationhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#techniqueshttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#techniqueshttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#voronethttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#sucevitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#stgeorgehttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#probotahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#patrautihttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#moldovitahttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#humorhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html#arbore


2/8

Arbore Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern RomaniaNearby large town: Suceava (20 miles southeast)Access: car, bus (from Gura Humorului or Radauti)Nearest train stations: Darmanesti, Radauti

Perhaps a tour of Bucovinas Painted Monasteries should begin here. After all, the highlight of the small Arbore (Are' bo

ray) church is a scene from Genesis, which adorns the western wall.The only church in the region with no belfry towers, because it was not built by a prince, the monastery was founded in 1503 byLuca Arbore, the advisor of Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare). It was painted four decades later by Dragos Coman, one of thegreatest 16th century mural painters of Romania.

Humor Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern Romania

Nearby large town: Suceava (25 miles east)

Access: car, bus (from Suceva), train

Nearest train stations: Gura Humorului

Founded in 1530, Humor (Hoo mor) is rather small physically, but looms large among Bucovinas treasures with a variety of

frescoes dating from 1535, including one illustrating theReturn of the Prodigal Sonand one with a humorous depiction of the

devil as a woman.

The church, topped by a cross-shaped shingled roof, is without a steeple, indicating that it was built by a court official rather

than a prince. The predominant hues of the frescoes are reddish brown with some rich blues and green infusions. An extremely

valuable collection of icons from the 16th century is displayed in the monastery.
http://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/humor-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/arbore-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/humor-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/arbore-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/humor-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/arbore-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/humor-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/arbore-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html


3/8

Moldovita Monastery


Nearby large town: Suceava (55 miles southeast)

Access: car, train (from Suceava to Vama, 1 hours, and from Vama to Vatra Moldovitei, 35 min.)

Nearest train station: Vatra Moldovitei hc

The Monastery of Moldovita (Mol do vee' tsa), located in the village of Vatra Moldovitei, was built by Petru Rares in 1532.

The Siege of Constantinople frescoes were inspired by a poem dedicated to the Virgin Mary in thanksgiving for her intervention in saving

the city of Constantinople from a Persian attack in A.D. 626. In a wonderful political spin, considering the Ottoman threat to Moldavia in

the 1500s, the Siege on the walls of Moldovita Church depicts the enemy as turbaned Turks rather than Persians.

The predominantly gold and deep blue paintings on the exterior walls were completed in 1537. The large and vivid Siege of

Constantinople highlights the frescoes.

Another stunning representation depicts the Tree of Jesse, representing Christs genealogy, a wide-spread iconographical theme

in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Patrauti Church



Access: car, bus from Suceava

Nearest train stations: Darmanesti, Suceava

Built in 1487 and dedicated to the Holy Cross, the monastery at Patrauti is the oldest surviving religious site founded by Stephen
http://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/patrauti-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/moldovita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/patrauti-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/moldovita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/patrauti-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/moldovita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/patrauti-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/moldovita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html


4/8

the Great. Mural paintings, dating from around 1550, can still be admired on the west faade. In 1775, soon after Bucovina was

annexed to the Habsburg Empire, the monastery was turned into a parish church. Today, only the church and a wooden bell

tower are still standing from the original monastic complex.

Probota Monastery


Nearby large town: Suceava (31 miles northwest)

Access: car

Nearest train station: Dolhasca

Only the church and the prince's residence remain today

from the original ensemble founded by Petru Rares in 1530.

In 1532, the church featured both outside and inside

frescoes. In the 19th century, a large part of the mural

paintings were replaced.

Probota was the first monastery to have external frescoes painted in Moldavia.

High walls surround Probota with corner towers for defense and a gate tower built in 1550. Throughout its history, Probota

Monastery has undergone several restorations and conservation campaigns. More interventions were carried out in 1930 to

replace some of the gothic tracery and repair the floor. In the steeple above the ruler's residence, a small museum exhibits

icons, furniture, old books, coins and several artifacts.

Saint Georges Church/ Saint John the New Monastery

(Biserica Sfantul Gheorghe / Manastirea Sfantul Ioan cel Nou)

Location: Suceava Northeastern Romania

Address: Str. Ioan Voda Viteazul 2

Nearest train station: Suceava

Built by Bogdan the 3rd and his son, Stefanita Voda, between 1514 and 1552 to serve as the Metropolitan Church of Moldavia,

Saint John the New Monastery is now the seat of the Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti.
http://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/probota-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/probota-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/probota-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html


5/8

Saint Georges Church houses the relics of Saint John the New, brought to Moldavia by Alexandru cel Bun in 1415. The relics are

placed in a silver casket, richly decorated with scenes from the saints life. The outstanding exterior frescoes, illustrating scenes

from the Old and New Testament, were completed in 1534 during the reign of Petru Rares, a glorious time in the era of religious

murals.

The style of St. Georges frescoes resembles those at Moldovita and Humor. Although only some parts ofThe Hymn of the

Deadand the legend of the Prodigal Son can still be seen on the southern wall, the church is nonetheless impressive, especially

due to its mosaic roof and belfry tower.

Sucevita Monastery



Access: car, bus (from Radauti)

Nearest train stations: Radauti, Vatra Moldovitei hc

High walls and heavily buttressed defensive towers surround the great monastic complex of Sucevita, giving it the appearance of

a fortress. Founded in 1581 by Gheorghe Movila, Bishop of Radauti, it was later expanded by his brother, Ieremia, ruling prince of

Moldavia, who added massive ramparts and turrets.

An elegant steeple resting on a star-shaped base tops the church. Massive eaves protect the outside frescoes, painted by local

artists in 1602-1604.

Sucevita was the last of the 22 painted churches of Bucovina and has the largest number of painted images.

The western exterior wall of the church is not painted. Legend has it that work stopped after one of the painters fell from the scaffolding

and died.

Sucevita boasts a magnificent depiction of the Ladder to Paradise. Red-winged angels in orderly rows attend the righteous on a

slanting ladder to the heavens, each rung inscribed with one of the monastic virtues. Sinners fall through the rungs and are

driven by grinning devils to the chaos of hell. On the south side, foliage entwines the rows of figures in the Tree of

Jesse. Following it is the Hymn to the Virgin.

Sucevita was a princely residence as well as a fortified monastery. Today, the thick walls shelter a museum presenting an

outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The tomb covers of Ieremia and Simion Movila rich portraits embroidered in
http://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/sucevita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/sucevita-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html


6/8

silver thread together with ecclesiastical silverware, books and illuminated manuscripts, offer eloquent testimony to Sucevita's

importance first as a manuscript workshop, then as a printing center.

Voronet Monastery


Nearby large town: Suceava (20 miles east)

Access: car, bus (from Gura Humorului), 3 -mile walk from Gura Humorului

Nearest train stations: Gura Humorului

Perhaps the most famous and stunning of the painted monasteries is Voronet (Vo ro nets), founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great

to celebrate a victory over the Turks. Widely known throughout Europe as "the Sistine Chapel of the East" due to its interior and

exterior wall paintings, this monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as

Voronet blue. The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was

built.

Voronet Monastery was founded by Stephen the Great, ruling prince of Moldavia, to fulfill a

pledge to Daniil, a hermit who had encouraged him to chase the Turks from Wallachiia. After defeating the Turks, Stephen

erected Voronet in less than four months.

Portraits of ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato, are featured in the Tree of Jesusfresco.

Added in 1547, the frescoes of this church illustrate biblical scenes, prayers, episodes of sacred hymns and themes such as The

Last Judgment and The Ladder of St. John, featuring colorful and detail-rich imagery of apostles, evangelists, philosophers,

martyrs, angels and demons.

Monastic life at Voronet was interrupted in 1785 under Habsburg rule. It returned only in 1991 with the arrival of a community of

nuns which strives to harmoniously combine a religious life of prayer with housekeeping and farm work. The nuns run a painting

workshop and provide guided tours of the monastery for visitors.

Original Fresco-Making Tehniques

Scripture Alfresco

Smithsonian Magazine, June 2007

Excerpts of an article by Andrew Curry. Mr. Curry is a Berlin-based journalist and former editor at the Smithsonian.
http://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/voronet-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/voronet-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/monasteries/voronet-monastery.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.html


7/8

Creating the frescoes took a sure, quick hand. Teams of four or five painters would first

even out the churchs rough stone walls with a thick layer of mortar, then smooth on a thin, fine-grained layer of lime plaster

mixed with natural fibers such as finely chopped straw. Once the last layer was applied, the artists had only a few hours to work

before the plaster dried. Apprentice painters would apply background color and decorations, while faces and hands were

reserved for master painters.

A portrait of the donor and his family presenting a miniature version of the church usually appears to the right of the door in the nave of

the churches. These painted models are important historical records of the original appearance of the monument.

There are no chairs or pews in Orthodox churches, only occasional choir stalls in the nave.

Artists had to be chemists as well, mixing pigments from rare clays, semiprecious stones and common minerals. Azurite and

malachite created vivid blues and greens. Ochre from clay was heated to produce reds, yellows and browns. As the plaster dried,

it reacted with the mineral pigments, fixing the colors. The technique, which involved no organic materials unlike frescoes that

use egg whites as binder, made the colors unusually durable.

Painted Monasteries Essentials

Transportation

Easily accessible from both Suceava - with its direct airline and rail links with Bucharest, and Iasi - offering daily flight

connections from Vienna and Bucharest , the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina can be viewed in one frustratingly rushed day, but

are better savored in two or three.

The town of Suceava may be the best starting point for a trip to the monasteries.

For more information about Suceava please visitwww.RomaniaTourism.com/Suceava.html

Iasi the largest city in eastern Romania is located 95 miles southwest of the painted monasteries area. For more information

about Iasi please visit

www.RomaniaTourism.com/Iasi.html

By air

The closest airports are located in

Suceava (SCV) - (www.aeroportsuceava.ro ) and

Iasi (IAS) -( www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htm).
http://www.romaniatourism.com/suceava.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/suceava.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/suceava.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/iasi.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/iasi.htmlhttp://www.aeroportsuceava.ro/http://www.aeroportsuceava.ro/http://www.aeroportsuceava.ro/http://www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htmhttp://www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htmhttp://www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htmhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/painted-monasteries.htmlhttp://www.aeroport.ro/index-eng.htmhttp://www.aeroportsuceava.ro/http://www.romaniatourism.com/iasi.htmlhttp://www.romaniatourism.com/suceava.html


8/8

There are daily flights from Bucharest to Suceava

(approximate travel time: 1 hour).

For flight schedules and fares please visit:www.tarom.ro

The international airport in Iasi is served by Austrian Airlines from New York, Washington, Chicago and Toronto with a change in

Vienna.

For flight schedules and fares please visit:www.aua.com

By car

The easiest way to visit the Painted Monasteries is by car; a 30-minute drive (or less) separates one from another. Car rental is

available in Suceava and Iasi. Excursions and day trips are also available from Suceava and Gura Humorului.

By train

Main train station: Suceava

There are daily trains from/to

Bucharest (travel time: 6 hours),

Iasi (travel time: 2 hours),

Cluj Napoca (travel time: 6 hours),

Brasov overnight (travel time: 8 hours) and several other cities in Romania.

From Suceva there are daily trains from/to

Gura Humorlui (travel time: 51 minutes),

Putna (travel time: 2 hours) and

Vatra Moldovitei change at Vama (travel time: 2 hours).

To check the latest train schedules for domestic routes, please visit the website of Romanian Railways:www.cfrcalatori.ro

The site has complete information about domestic train schedules and fares.

Note: For departures from/to Bucharest, please select Bucuresti Nord.

Accommodation

Gura Humorului located just 25 miles west ofSuceava provides a good base for exploring both the monasteries and the

nearby villages. Guesthouses are available in Vama and Sucevita.
http://www.tarom.ro/http://www.tarom.ro/http://www.tarom.ro/http://www.austrian.com/?cc=US&sc_lang=enhttp://www.austrian.com/?cc=US&sc_lang=enhttp://www.austrian.com/?cc=US&sc_lang=enhttp://www.cfrcalatori.ro/http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/http://www.austrian.com/?cc=US&sc_lang=enhttp://www.tarom.ro/

the painted monasteries of bucovina, romania

Documents