Putna Monastery, founded in 1466, was the first painted monastery to be built by Prince Stephen the Great (arguably the greatest of all Romania’s rulers) and the oldest in Bucovina. Stephen the Great is famous for building and influencing dozens of churches and monasteries all over Bucovina; allegedly, he founded a religious edifice after each important military victory. Later known as St. Stephen, he was buried inside Putna Monastery, now a place of pilgrimage. A school group was visiting Putna at the same time as we, and sang a hymn to St. Stephen while I video’d.
What is interesting about Putna Painted Monastery is that visitors are allowed to take video and photograph inside the Church. Why? Nothing inside is original. Allegedly, Cossacks burned down the church to melt the gold inside and the exterior was never repainted. What was left of the original frescoes has been removed to a museum…somewhere… (one never knows about these things)…and restored in its original manner with a gorgeous iconostatis, ceiling and wall paintings.
Putna Painted Monastery inside Church, Romania
There has only been one actual picture of Stephen The Great throughout history, and all of his likeness’ going forward are based on the one below.
representation of St. Stephen at Putna Monastery, Romania
portion of the Putna Church iconostatis, Romania
Putna Painted Monastery was the third monastery seen and for those of you who reached this page by “search,” I’ll explain one last time why they were painted on the exterior as well as the interior:
#1 – The exterior walls were painted with elaborate frescoes and murals that portrayed Biblical stories and important Orthodox saints. The first Bible wasn’t printed in Europe until 1455 and illiterate peasants depended on oral recitation for education; usually received during church sermons. Priests began painting the inside of churches with vivid Biblical images; portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, and heaven and hell until they ran out of space. An “a ha” moment when someone decided to continue the colorful folk art on the outside walls!
#3 – The best-preserved monasteries are in: Humor, Moldovita, Patrauti, Probota, Suceava, Sucevita, and Voronet; a small church is located in the Arbore Village and most are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The group would visit three of them: Moldovita, Sucevita and Patna.
#4 – The monasteries still house thriving religious communities of nuns and monks.
#5 – Exterior portraits were painted in a deliberate pecking order, from top to bottom: Prophets; Apostles; Martyrs carrying crosses; and monks on the bottom.
inside Putna Painted Monastery, Romania
painting of Jesus over St. Stephen’s tomb inside Putna Monastery, Romania
After Stephen the Great won the battle of Kilia, he began work on the monastery to give thanks to God, and it took three years to complete. The monastery was consecrated in 1470 and became the most important religious site in the area. Stephen the Great (now St. Stephen) was buried at Putna Monastery with his third wife Maria Voichita.
unusual bell for services in Putna Church, Romania
Leaving this last Painted Monastery behind, Marinel drove to Bacau for one night at Club Karo (the link is in Romanian only). This was another very lovely hotel with gardens, tennis courts, restaurant and large swimming pool. Wow…two great hotels in a row, be still my heart.
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