Dragomirna Monastery

The building of this monastery began around 1602 when the Church of the Small Cemetery was built. This church named after the Resurrection was built on the banks of a lake and was enlarged to its current size and shape somewhere between 1608 – 1609. Dragomirna is one of a kind, with its graceful lightness and outstanding artistry of stone base-reliefs. The steeple of the church is 42m high to the foot of the cross-facades, which are surrounded by a stone-carved frieze formed of the three interweaving strips. The steeple is ornamented with stone-carved floral and geometrical motifs, inspired by the Caucasian art.

The river whose spring is close by is also called Dragomirna. In the vicinity there is a lake where, at twilight, the old walls of the monastery are reflecting in. Also here it is said one could see from time to time the image of the metropolitan Anastasie Crimca, the founder of the monastery. This monk was a skilful calligrapher and miniaturist. In 1609 tow years after the building of the monastery, the prelate painted an evangel who can be admired together with other decorated religious books, in the museum of the monastery.

It is hard to explain why Dragomirna has an unusual height in comparison with its width. It is this slender form, which renders the monastery original, together with the cupola beautifully carved with floral motifs in relief. Experts say that the whole complex suggesting a solitary bird represents the pattern of the fortified monastery of Moldova.