Vovidenia Church in Stavnic Monastery

If the ruins could speak, they would describe a particularly interesting page in the history of Moldova. And the Stavnic Hermitage and the small Vovidenia church, from the 18th century, really have something to say.

The church was bombed in the Second World War, leaving only the side walls, from the ruins now it is difficult to imagine what it looked like in its good old days.

However, this place is not only a spiritual refuge, but also one dedicated to history and tradition enthusiasts. The main craft of the community from Schitu Stavnic was black ceramic pottery, decorated with stone polishing and wheel printing, an occupation spread throughout the village and recognized throughout the country.

This is why this war-torn place of prayer and clay deserves your full attention!

Founded around 1727, by Constantin Cucoranu from Medelnice, the church functioned for a long time as a hermitage of monks. It bore the name of Vovidenia, the old name of the feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the church.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the hermitage was detached from Bogdăneşti Parish and became independent, but not having its own means of existence, the decision was quickly revoked.

The 20th century was the darkest period in the history of the church. During the Second World War, the strategic defense line established by the German army was right on the alignment of the village of Schitu Stavnic. Unfortunately, being very close to a casemate, the church was bombed and partially destroyed, and of what was once a majestic place of prayer, only the side walls remained, the ruins keeping in secret the memory of a glorious past, but also of a tragic end.

Here, the faith is still alive, as evidenced by the fact that, in 1993, the hermitage was re-established.

The ruins of the church preserve to this day some precious architectural details, which help us to imagine what the religious ensemble once looked like.

The foundation was made of stone blocks, and the walls are made of red brick. The architectural style of the place was simple, with a vaulted pronaos in a semi-cylinder and a nave with a spire. There was also a spire above the pronaos, the beginning of the access staircase to this being still visible today. The facade of the church was decorated with blind arches and clerestory pits, and traces of plaster are still preserved on one of the church's windows.

The entrance to the church was through the northern part of the pronaos, and inside there was a dividing wall between the naos and the pronaos. Also, on the wall on the south side of the pronaos there is an interesting detail, namely a crypt. This is a room that probably houses the tombs of the founders.

Unique experiences

After you have visited the Vovidenia Church within the Stavnic Monastery, but you are eager to discover other interesting sights in this area, then you can also stop at the Archaeological Site of Vocoteşti, the "St. Nicholas" Church in Lungani and the Negruzzi Family Mansion from Voineşti, dating from 1830.

And because you are also close to the Municipality of Iași, then we suggest you visit the Atanasie Fătu Botanical Garden, the house of Ion Creangă, the Palace of Culture, the Iași Metropolitan Cathedral and the Ensemble of the Holy Three Hierarchs Monastery.