Moldovita Monastery

About

Moldovița Monastery was built by Petru Rareș, Stephen the Great’s illegitimate son, in 1532. Surrounded by fortified walls and guarded by a robust tower, the monastery was built as a bastion of Orthodoxy in a time when Protestantism and Islamism were knocking at the gates of medieval Romania. In an era of illiteracy, Rareș had his churches churches covered with murals depicting stories from the Bible and Christian history - both inside and out. It’s for these masterful murals that Moldovița Monastery is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The highlight at Moldovița is the south facade, where the siege of Constantinople is depicted in vivid colors - except the Persian and Avar aggressors are depicted in Turkish dress, representing the contemporary threat to the church. Inside, amongst the many religious cycles is you can see an image of a Prince Petru offering the church to Christ. In the monastery’s small museum, Rareş’ original throne is on display.