8/11/2019 Curchi monastery is a monk monastery from Moldova.docx

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Curchi monastery is a monk monastery from Moldova, one of the most importantarchitectural monuments of Basarabia. It is located in Forest Orhei near the villageCurchi, Orhei. As architectural ensemble was founded in XVIII - XIX. It iscomposed of five churches, two buildings with cells, the abbot, several auxiliaryrooms, orchard, a hermitage with xenodochium Monastery located at 500 m and astone basin.

Curchi monastery, dedicated to "Naterea Domnului", is located southwest fromOrhei, 14 km from the city. Situated in the valley Vatici, surrounded by a richnatural environment, the monastery has a religious and cultural past of twocenturies. This monastery is considered to be the most beautiful and most famousmonastery in Bessarabia.

Until 2003, many tourists visiting the monastery knew that there was a psychiatrichospital. Today, at Curchi monastery, which is in restoration, more and moretourists are comming. Curchi monastery is included in wine tourist route Orhei.

Chronologicaly, the history of the monastery started in 1773-1775, being at theXIX century one of the richest, most beautiful and largest monasteries in Moldova.The monastery had six churches: wooden church of St. Demetrius, built in 1775by Ioan Curchi and demolished after 1820; the stone church "Naterea Domnului",founded in 1810; winter church of St. Demetrius, built in 1844; summer churchNaterea Domnului raised in 1872, considered the head of the monasterybuilding, reopened and consecrated on September 21 1993; church cemetery,dedicated to "All Saints winter church of St. Nicholas, built in the years 1936-1939(unfinished). Monastic life was stopped here in 1958, when the monastery was

closed. Beginning with 2002 Curchi monastic complex was passed to theOrthodox Church of Moldova.

Monastery's main church, the cathedral dedicated to the Naterea Domnului,was built between 1862-1872, after an Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelliproject. Builted in baroque stile, the cathedral is the highest in Moldovacentraldome having 57 m, twin with the church of St. Andrew the First Called " fromKiev. During the Second World War there was a fire, which resulted in thecomplete combustion of the painting inside and gold gilded iconostasis.

After a strong bombardment of the four belfry of the cathedral remained only two.Cathedral paintings were made in 1943. The next renovation works were carriedout only in 1993. On February 15, 2006, Teleradio-Moldova organized the project"Curchi Monastery: From ruins to elevation. It was an act of awareness, anencouragement for Christians to contribute financially to revive this importantmonument of culture and spirituality.