University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine Bucureti Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Develo

o ment Master s ecialisation! Management and Rural Develo ment

Bucovina Monasteries

Coordonator: Conf.Univ.Dr. Popescu Liliana

Master: Capr Mariana 2nd year

Content:
-Introduction -Hu or Monastery -Moldovita Monastery -Pro!ota Monastery -"ucevita Monastery -#oronet Monastery

Bucovina Monasteries

Introduction
"#ere is indeed no ot#er lace in t#e $orld t#an Bucovina in %ort#ern Moldavia, $#ere a grou of &rt#odo' monasteries $it# t#eir e'terior mural aintings are to (e seen) "#ese *ainted Monasteries are art of U%ES+&,s -orld .eritage for t#eir rarity and (eauty) Anot#er grou are t#e -ooden +#urc#es of Maramures, uni/ue e'am les t#at com(ine 0ot#ic style $it# traditional tim(er construction) -it# many #otos and e'tensive information t#is $e(site resents t#e uni/ue and ric# cultural #eritage of Bucovina, Maramures, and Romania in general e'tensive travel information and guides, ictures, monasteries, c#urc#es, attractions and destinations all over Romania) "#e im ressive num(er of c#urc#es to (e found in Bucovina, Romania, $it# t#eir fine e'terior and interior frescoes, #ave (een reserved and #anded do$n from mediaeval times, and (ecause of t#eir uni/ueness and artistic value, $ere added to U%ES+&,s -orld +ultural .eritage 1ist in 2334) "#ere is, indeed, no ot#er lace in t#e $orld $#ere suc# a grou of c#urc#es, $it# suc# #ig# /uality e'terior frescoes, are to (e seen) "#e c#urc#es $ere founded, in most cases, as family (urial laces of rinces and #ig# no(les) Eac# ainter, alt#oug# follo$ing t#e canonical iconogra #ic rogramme, inter reted t#e scenes in a slig#tly different $ay) Using colors li5e t#e famous Voronet (lue, t#e green6red of Sucevita, t#e yello$ of Moldovita, t#e red of .umor and t#e green of Ar(ore, t#e ainters 7most of t#em un5no$n8 descri(ed t#e (i(lical stories of t#e eart# and #eaven, scenes from t#e lives of t#e .olly Virgin and 9esus +#rist, stories of man,s (eginnings and of #is life after deat#) "#e scenes $ere first ainted on t#e interior $alls, and t#en e'tended to t#e e'terior ones) "#e reasons for suc# vast scenes $ere (ot# religious and didactic! to romote &rt#odo'y and to educate t#e illiterate) Among t#e most ictures/ue treasures of Romania are t#e *ainted Monasteries of Bucovina 7in northeastern Romania8) "#eir ainted e'terior $alls are decorated $it# ela(orate 2:t# and 2;t# century frescoes featuring ortraits of saints and ro #ets, scenes from t#e life of 9esus, images of angels and demons, #eaven and #ell) Deemed master ieces of By<antine art, t#ese c#urc#es are one6of6a65ind arc#itectural sites in Euro e) Far from (eing merely $all decorations, t#e murals re resent com lete cycles of religious murals) "#e ur ose of t#e frescoes $as to ma5e t#e story of t#e Bi(le and t#e lives of t#e most im ortant &rt#odo' saints 5no$n to villagers (y t#e use of images) "#eir outstanding com osition, elegant outline and #armonious colors (lend erfectly $it# t#e surrounding landsca e)-#et#er you are interested in religion, #istory, art or arc#itecture, you $ill (e intrigued (y t#e construction and decor = e'terior and interior = of t#ese edifices)

"#e (est6 reserved are t#e monasteries in .umor, Moldovita, *atrauti, *ro(ota, Suceava, Sucevita, and Voronet) Anot#er, a small c#urc#, is located in t#e village of Ar(ore) Seven of t#e c#urc#es $ere laced on U%ES+&,s -orld .eritage list in 2334) "#e eig#t#, Sucevita, is a$aiting sanction to (e added on t#e list)

Hu or Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern Romania Nearby large town: Suceava (25 miles east) Access: car bus (!rom Suceva) train Nearest train stations: "ura #umorului Founded in 2:4>, .umor (#oo mor) is rat#er small #ysically, (ut looms large among Bucovina,s treasures $it# a variety of frescoes dating from 2:4:, including one illustrating t#eReturn o! the $ro%igal Son and one $it# a ?#umorous@ de iction of t#e devil as a $oman) "#e c#urc#, to ed (y a cross6s#a ed s#ingled roof, is $it#out a stee le, indicating t#at it $as (uilt (y a court official rat#er t#an a rince) "#e redominant #ues of t#e frescoes are reddis# (ro$n $it# some ric# (lues and green infusions) An e'tremely valua(le collection of icons from t#e 2;t# century is dis layed in t#e monastery)

Moldovita Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern Romania Nearby large town: Suceava (55 miles southeast) Access: car train (!rom Suceava to &ama '( hours an% !rom &ama to &atra )ol%ovitei *5 min+) Nearest train station: &atra )ol%ovitei

"#e Monastery of Moldovita ()ol %o vee, tsa), located in t#e village of Vatra Moldovitei, $as (uilt (y *etru Rares in 2:4A)"#e Siege of +onstantino le frescoes $ere ins ired (y a oem dedicated to t#e Virgin Mary in t#an5sgiving for #er intervention in saving t#e city of +onstantino le from a *ersian attac5 in A)D) ;A;) Bn a $onderful olitical s in, considering t#e &ttoman t#reat to Moldavia in t#e 2:>>s, t#e Siege on t#e $alls of Moldovita +#urc# de icts t#e enemy as tur(aned "ur5s rat#er t#an *ersians) "#e redominantly gold and dee (lue aintings on t#e e'terior $alls $ere com leted in 2:4C) "#e large and vivid Siege o! -onstantino.le #ig#lig#ts t#e frescoes)Anot#er stunning re resentation de icts t#e /ree o! 0esse, re resenting +#rist,s genealogy, a $ide6s read iconogra #ical t#eme in Euro e during t#e Middle Ages)

Pro!ota Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern Romania Nearby large town: Suceava (*' miles northwest) Access: car Nearest train station: 1olhasca &nly t#e c#urc# and t#e rinceDs residence remain today from t#e original ensem(le founded (y *etru Rares in 2:4>) Bn 2:4A, t#e c#urc# featured (ot# outside and inside frescoes) Bn t#e 23t# century, a large art of t#e mural aintings $ere re laced)*ro(ota $as t#e first monastery to #ave e'ternal frescoes ainted in Moldavia) .ig# $alls surround *ro(ota $it# corner to$ers for defense and a gate to$er (uilt in 2::>) "#roug#out its #istory, *ro(ota Monastery #as undergone several restorations and conservation cam aigns) More interventions $ere carried out in 234> to re lace some of t#e got#ic tracery and re air t#e floor) Bn t#e stee le a(ove t#e rulerDs residence, a small museum e'#i(its icons, furniture, old (oo5s, coins and several artifacts)

"ucevita Monastery

Location: Bucovina Northeastern Romania Nearby large town: Suceava (*' miles southeast) Access: car bus (!rom Ra%auti) Nearest train stations: Ra%auti &atra )ol%ovitei

.ig# $alls and #eavily (uttressed defensive to$ers surround t#e great monastic com le' of Sucevita, giving it t#e a earance of a fortress) Founded in 2:E2 (y 0#eorg#e Movila, Bis#o of Radauti, it $as later e' anded (y #is (rot#er, Beremia, ruling rince of Moldavia, $#o added massive ram arts and turrets)An elegant stee le resting on a star6s#a ed (ase to s t#e c#urc#) Massive eaves rotect t#e outside frescoes, ainted (y local artists in 2;>A62;>F) Sucevita $as t#e last of t#e AA ainted c#urc#es of Bucovina and #as t#e largest num(er of ainted images)"#e $estern e'terior $all of t#e c#urc# is not ainted) 1egend #as it t#at $or5 sto ed after one of t#e ainters fell from t#e scaffolding and died) Sucevita (oasts a magnificent de iction of t#e La%%er to $ara%ise) Red6$inged angels in orderly ro$s attend t#e rig#teous on a slanting ladder to t#e #eavens, eac# rung inscri(ed $it# one of t#e monastic virtues) Sinners fall t#roug# t#e rungs and are driven (y grinning devils to t#e c#aos of #ell) &n t#e sout# side, foliage ent$ines t#e ro$s of figures in t#e /ree o! 0esse+ Follo$ing it is t#e #ymn to the &irgin+ Sucevita $as a rincely residence as $ell as a fortified monastery) "oday, t#e t#ic5 $alls s#elter a museum resenting an outstanding collection of #istorical and art o(Gects) "#e tom( covers of Beremia and Simion Movila ric# ortraits em(roidered in silver t#read toget#er $it# ecclesiastical silver$are, (oo5s and illuminated manuscri ts, offer elo/uent testimony to SucevitaDs im ortance first as a manuscri t $or5s#o , t#en as a rinting center)

#oronet Monastery

"#e +#urc# of St) 0eorge of t#e VoroneH Monastery is ossi(ly t#e most famous c#urc# of Romania)

2ear Built: '344 Built by: Ste.hen the "reat Location: &orone5 Suceava -ounty Bt is 5no$n t#roug#out t#e $orld for its e'terior frescoes of (rig#t and intense colours, and for t#e #undreds of $ell6 reserved figures laced against t#e reno$ned a<urite (ac5ground) "#e c#urc# of VoroneH t#at Ste #en t#e 0reat (uilt included t#e c#ancel, t#e naos $it# its to$er, and t#e ronaos) "#e monastery is located on a river(an5, at t#e end of t#e long and narro$ village of t#e same name, near t#e to$n of 0ura .umorului) "#e age of t#e monastic site is not 5no$n) A legend tells us t#at Ste #en t#e 0reat, in a moment of crisis during a $ar against t#e "ur5s, came to Daniel t#e .ermit at #is s5ete in VoroneH and as5ed for advice) After #e $on t#e (attle against t#e "ur5s, 5ee ing #is romise to t#e mon5, t#e rince (uilt a ne$ c#urc#, dedicated to St) 0eorge, t#e (ringer of victory in (attle) "#is is t#e resent c#urc# t#at $as (uilt on t#e site of an older $ooden c#urc#, t#e scanty remains of $#ic# #ave not (een dated) "#e reno$ned researc#er 0eorge Bal $rote in t#e 23A>,s t#at t#e c#urc#es of t#is eriod, and in art also t#ose (uilt in t#e follo$ing century, $ere ?By6antine churches built with "othic han%s@)"#e structure and t#e interior s atial solutions $ere lin5ed to t#e By<antine and sout# Slavic tradition)

7South !a8a%e with scenes !rom the lives o! Sts+ Nicholas an% 0ohn the New+

"#e e'terior, $it# its (uttresses and door and $indo$ frames $ere related to -estern Euro ean .ig# 0ot#ic) "#e +#urc# of St) 0eorge is dated $it# t#e commemorative inscri tion laced a(ove t#e original entrance, no$ in t#e e'onart#e'! ?9 $rince Ste.hen by "o%:s mercy lea%ing the -ountry o! )ol%avia son o! $rince Bog%an starte% to buil% this !oun%ation at the )onastery o! &orone5 %e%icate% to the Saint an% ;orshi..e% an% "reat )artyr an% &ictorious "eorge in the year <==< ('344) the month o! )ay 2< the )on%ay a!ter the 1escent o! the #oly S.irit an% com.lete% it in the same year in the month o! Se.tember '3@) "#e te't s#o$s t#at t#e c#urc# $as (uilt in less t#an four mont#s) "#is tells us somet#ing a(out t#e #ig# rofessional level of construction at t#e time, es ecially ta5ing into account t#at t#e +#urc# of St) EliGa# in Suceava $as (uilt e'actly at t#e same time)

7/he Last 0u%gment on the west !a8a%e o! the -hurch o! St+ "eorge+

"#e c#urc# of VoroneH t#at Ste #en t#e 0reat (uilt included t#e c#ancel, t#e naos $it# its to$er, and t#e ronaos, $#ic# means t#at its lan $as identical to t#e c#urc#es of *atrauti, St) EliGa# and MiliIuHi) Bn 2:FC, t#e Metro olitan Bis#o of Moldavia 0rigore Roca added t#e

e'onart#e' to t#e $est end of t#e c#urc#) "#e small $indo$s, t#eir rectangular frames of crossed rods and t#e receding ointed or s#ouldered arc#es of t#e interior doorframes are 0ot#ic) "#e sout# and nort# doors of t#e e'onart#e' of 2:FC #ave rectangular frames, $#ic# indicate a transition eriod from 0ot#ic to Renaissance) But, a(ove t#em, on eac# $all is a tall $indo$ $it# a flam(oyant

0ot#ic arc#) "#e $#ole $est faJade is $it#out any o enings, $#ic# indicates t#at t#e intention of Metro olitan Roca $as since t#e (eginning to reserve it for frescoes)

7/he commemorative inscri.tion o! the -hurch o! St+ "eorge is .lace% above the entrance

"#e e'onart#e', as recounted a(ove, $as added (y t#e Metro olitan 0rigore Roca in 2:FC) "#is addition c#anged t#e loo5 of t#e small c#urc#, $#ic# u to no$ #ad (een nearly identical $it# t#e still e'isting c#urc#es of *ItrIuHi and St) EliGa# of Suceava) "#e e'onart#e' is a rectangular s ace $it# a transversal (arrel vault) "#e $est $all is $it#out an o ening, (ut on (ot# lateral $alls t#ere is an entrance and a tall 0ot#ic $indo$) During t#e #alf century t#at se arates t#e aintings of t#e e'onart#e' from t#ose of t#e naos, Moldavian art #ad evolved from so(er and rigorous to more com le', decorative and lively) Floral decorations fill all availa(le em ty s ace, divide scenes and registers, and accentuate arc#itectural elements suc# as nic#es and arc#es) "#e clot#es of t#e figures turn from sim le into sum tuous, and t#e (lea5 landsca es are no$ filled $it# vegetation) Details $in ground $#ere earlier s iritual intensity $as most im ortant) Voronet is F 5m sout# of 0ura .umorului $#ere you can find accommodations and travel information) "#e to$n can (e reac#ed (y rail$ay after a FC 5m ride from Suceava and 4A 5m from+am ulung Moldovenesc, $#ile (y road t#e distance on E :E is 4; 5m to (ot# Suceava and +am ulung Moldovenesc)

7"eneral view o! the &oronet )onastery+

71etails !rom !a8a%e o! &oronet )onastery+

7/he vault o! the e>onarthe> %e.icts /he )enolog +

7Saints an% #oly ;omen

*ortraits of ancient 0ree5 #iloso #ers, suc# as Aristotle and *lato, are featured in t#e /ree o! 0esusfresco)Added in 2:FC, t#e frescoes of t#is c#urc# illustrate (i(lical scenes, rayers, e isodes of

sacred #ymns and t#emes suc# as /he Last 0u%gment and /he La%%er o! St+ 0ohn, featuring colorful and detail6ric# imagery of a ostles, evangelists, #iloso #ers, martyrs, angels and demons) Monastic life at Voronet $as interru ted in 2CE: under .a(s(urg rule) Bt returned only in 2332 $it# t#e arrival of a community of nuns $#ic# strives to #armoniously com(ine a religious life of rayer $it# #ouse5ee ing and farm $or5) "#e nuns run a ainting $or5s#o and rovide guided tours of t#e monastery for visitors)

$ri%inal &resco-Ma'in% (e)ni*ues "cripture+lfresco

KE'cer ts of an article (y Andre$ +urry) Mr) +urry is a Berlin6(ased Gournalist and former editor at t#e Smit#sonian)

+reating t#e frescoes too5 a sure, /uic5 #and) "eams of four or five ainters $ould first even out t#e c#urc#,s roug# stone $alls $it# a t#ic5 layer of mortar, t#en smoot# on a t#in, fine6grained layer of lime laster mi'ed $it# natural fi(ers suc# as finely c#o ed stra$) &nce t#e last layer $as a lied, t#e artists #ad only a fe$ #ours to $or5 (efore t#e laster dried) A rentice ainters $ould a ly (ac5ground color and decorations, $#ile faces and #ands $ere reserved for master ainters) Artists #ad to (e c#emists as $ell, mi'ing igments from rare clays, semi recious stones and common minerals) A<urite and malac#ite created vivid (lues and greens) &c#re from clay $as #eated to roduce reds, yello$s and (ro$ns) As t#e laster dried, it reacted $it# t#e mineral igments, fi'ing t#e colors) "#e tec#ni/ue, $#ic# involved no organic materials unli5e frescoes t#at use egg $#ites as (inder, made t#e colors unusually dura(le)