AGAPIA Nunnery (Neamt County, Romania)

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Agapia Nunnery (New Agapia or Agapia in the Valley) is an Orthodox monastery of nuns located 12 km from Targu Neamt. Agapia is the only Orthodox monastic settlement in Romania called "Christian love" (from the Greek "agapis"), named after Agape hermit, the founder of monasticism in this area in the 14th century (he founded "Old" Agapia, or "the Hill"). The early 17th century a number of monks came down here from the old convent in the mountain (or Old Agapia, or Agapia the Hill). They built a small church in the valley, then in the years 1642-1644 they amounted Agapia (New, Valley) Monastery. The cells and the bell tower were built in next 3 years. Consecration officiated by Metropolitan Varlaam of Moldova, in presence of the prince Vasile Lupu, held on September 12, 1647. Agapia (New, in Valley) was originally inhabited by monks. In 1803 at the initiative of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache, Prince Alexandru Moruzzi decides that it becomes community of nuns. Over time, Agapia Monastery suffered numerous robberies, destruction and fire, but was rebuilt each time. The great destructions of 1821 due to fighting between Ottomans and Filiki Eteria, refugee here, were renovated by Prince Sutu. On the southern side, upstairs, it was built a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Birth, consecrated in 1847. In the years 1858-1862 the monastery undergoes several changes and also the inside of church was painted by Nicolae Grigorescu, the greatest Roumain painter. The painting is done in the neoclassical style with innovative elements, sometimes using live models, which explains the vivacity of the faces. Icon of the Mother of God is a miracle-working icon, much loved by the faithful who visit the monastery. At Agapia, the masterpiece of Grigorescu who was at that time only 20 years, is represented by three pictures: Portrait of St. George on the altar door, Entry into Jerusalem, the Virgin with Jesus in her arms. At the same time, Grigorescu established in Agapia the painting workshop, the school where they formed the nuns who had artistic inclinations. Nowadays the nuns abandoned the realistic style of the great painter, creating paintings with Byzantine influences. "St. Parascheva" Monastic Theological Seminary for girls works at the monastery, unique among the monasteries of Moldova. The museum holds an impressive collection of medieval art and religious. In a room are exhibited embroideries, coverings for the sacred vessels, icons, embroidered, epitrachelion, a curtain icon of Virgin Mary, an epitaph, silver objects, sacred vessels, crosses, candles and a aghiasma jar. In another room are exposed ancient icons (16th-18th centuries), crosses carved and filifranate, old manuscripts, spoons and shrines, candles, candlesticks and other objects of historical value. The room dedicated to the great painter Nicolae Grigorescu contains 29 original painter's works (icons, cauls, an epitaph and 5 paintings with secular themes) accomplished during he painted the monastery. There is another room of writers who somehow linked their life to Agapia and two crossing halls. The monastery has a library with ancient books and manuscripts. In Agapia live about 340 nuns, 100 in the monastery's congregation and others in the monastic village. Around the monastery are 140 old houses with 100-200 years age, historical monuments. Of these, the memorial house "Alexander Vlahuţă" dating from 1885 has been converted into a memorial museum in 1966. Outside the enclosure there are churches Assumption and St.John Bogoslov. Up the valley can be reached through the woods Sihla Monastery (with the cave where she lived for almost 40 years Saint Theodora) and then the Sihastria (Hermitage) Monastery (pilgrimage to the tombs of Paisie Cleopa and Ilie Olaru). Accommodation can be done in the nuns cottages from monastery village or in the many guesthouses in the Agapia village.
The group of nuns "Iustiniana" from the Paltin - Petru Vodă Monastery, led by Monahia Fotini, sings.