Welcome to Varatec Monastery
Location:
Twelve km south-west of Targu Neamt City and only few km away of Agapia Village, on Varatec Village territory, west of Valea Seacă and south of Agapia and Filioara.
How to get here:
By car:
We recommend you to follow the same routes as for Agapia Monastery because this one is only few minutes away driving from Varatec Monastery.
Transport:
We recommend you to rent a car when you arrive in Romania because is the most convenient way to get to these monasteries. You can also get by train or bus to Târgu Neamţ City and from here try to check at the bus station to see what buses depart for Văratec Monastery.
Foundation Year:
1785
Church or Monastery saint title:
Assumption of Our Lady
The painted monasteries from Bucovina
Varatec Monastery
History and construction of Varatec Monastery:
Varatec Monastery is known as the largest monastery of nuns from Romania where more than 450 nuns are living and it was built by Olimpiada nun, with help from Paisie Velicicovschi, the main monk at Neamt Monastery during that time. At the very beginning of the building process, it was only a small church and in 1803 is declared independent monastery with over 600 nuns at that time. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) For the wish of extending Varatec complex, between 1808 and 1812, the new church was built called “Assumption of Our Lady” where you can perfectly see how the Moldavian style combines with the neoclassic one.
Varatec Monastery, view from the main entrance
Pictures (icons), museum, what you can see inside and what this Monastery Complex includes:
Apart from most of the churches and monasteries, this one has two twin towers with an octagonal base. Church interior welcomes you with two mural scenes The Hell and The Heaven, but also the inscription with the foundation year of the church. The interior is impressive and enriched by two icons in silver situated in front of the tabernacle: The Savior and Our Lady with the Baby Jesus Icons. The main pictures from the church are The Saint Mahrama (Jesus Christ the Savior) painted by Nicolae Grigorescu, Our Lady Queen and Saint Anna. The paint was made in 1841.
View from the back of Varatec Monastery
Inside the Monastery you can find the grave of Joseph the Confessor and a small coffin that has relics from saints protecting this place of worship. Varatec Monastery Complex includes other churches like “Birth of Saint John the Baptist” Church (1844) and “Transfiguration” Church (1847), but also the bell tower (XIX century) and the nuns houses (180 houses). Also, part of the monastery is the new nursing home called “Pious Nazaria” and the Museum where you can see religious art objects (embroideries, paints, sculptures, weavers) from the past time of Varatec. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) Many of these objects were the creation of nuns who lived here. Not far away from Varatec is the grave of Veronica Micle, the life partner of the well known Romanian novelist Mihai Eminescu.
Varatec Monastery
“Varatec Monastery is a live spring, an open book for all who’re looking for silence, meditation and reconciliation with themselves and their neighbor, in a tumultuous world and in search of truth”. Visit Varatec Monastery!
Varatec Monastery, the main entrance
