MIHAI VODA MONASTERY BUCHAREST
Bucharest Mihai Voda Monastery is a highlight of the capital for two reasons. It was built in the 17th century and is very old. And secondly, it is one of the worship places the communists moved or translated. Yes, it was a measure the state took before 1989 not to demolish them. The communists had plans and the old churches or monasteries were not in these plans. Since we have been living in Bucharest for more than 24 years, we visited this monastery few times. It is spectacular because it was part of a fortress more than 400 years ago.
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: Mihai Voda Monastery is close to Unirii Square in Bucharest
WHEN “MIHAI VODA MONASTERY” WAS BUILT
Mihai Voda Monastery in Bucharest is one of the oldest worship places ever built in the capital. The Lord Mihai Voda also known as Mihai the Brave decided to build it on the land he owned. It was in a time when he had some powers as a great boyar in the late XVIth century. A legend says that the Turkish soldiers caught him and wanted to kill him. Romanian provinces were somehow under the rule of Turkish empire. So, many Romanian Romanian boyars or lords got killed for different reasons. So, Mihai, being sure it was his last day alive asked to pray in a small church. The Turks allowed him and he promised Saint Nicholas that he would build a monastery if he survives. Which happened and, thus, he built Mihai Voda Monastery.
HISTORY OF MIHAI VODA MONASTERY BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: Inside used to serve the people The National Archives and also a Chemistry Lab
“MIHAI VODA MONASTERY” OR THE CHURCH OF KNIGHTS
The Mihai Voda Monastery had large cellars. Also walls were strong enough to resist sieges, just like fortresses had. At about 1755 authorities built a new entrance. And also a tower connected the Old Court with the building. In the beginning of the 19th century a great fire and an earthquake damaged the church. The entire complex needed restoration. Something very interesting happened, then, in 1920. The monastery became in that year the church of the knights.
It was all about Mihai the Brave Knights order. King Ferdinand founded this military order. So, here, inside the monastery, all the officers and the commanders in the army would swear to serve the country in the presence of the king himself.
THE CROSS AT MIHAI VODA MONASTERY BUCHAREST
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: This was also the meeting point for the knights, actually the commanders of the Romanian Army. It happened in 1920
The headquarters of the State Archive also functioned here as well as a School of Surgery and a Chemistry Lab. Between 1928 and 1935, architects and workers renovated the entire Mihai Voda Monastery. And the building where functioned the State Archives, near it, too. The latest was one of the first civilian structures in Bucharest made of reinforced concrete.
ARCHITECTURE
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: Authorities needed dynamite to move or translate part of the complex
COMMUNISTS MOVED MIHAI VODA MONASTERY IN BUCHAREST
The walls of Mihai Voda Monastery were 1 m depth. So, it was a challenge to move it entierly as it happened in 1984. Authorities had to use dynamite against these walls. Mihai the Brave monastery, initially, raised in Izvor Park. It was in front of the House of People, the nowadays PALACE OF ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT. After the great earthquake in 1977, Nicolae Ceausescu started to build a new center of the city. It was the so-called Civic center and included the House of People. For this huge building to appear, he needed to move the monastery. In other cases, he simply destroyed churches and houses. But the monastery, by chance, was translated about 300m near the blocks of flats on Sapientei Street. See how you can VISIT HOUSE OF PEOPLE IN 2018!
TOWER OF MIHAI VODA MONASTERY
By:BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: Communists translated the building more than 300 meters in 1984
WHAT TO SEE INSIDE
On the west side of the complex, there is a portal with an icon dating back to 1711. The frontages are made of fake bricks. They are all sorrounded by a stone belt. Mihai Voda Monastery can be part of your journey around House of the People and the Patriarchy.
By: BUCHAREST-TRAVEL.COM
Photographed In: Bucharest, Romania
Date Uploaded:2017-08-06
Description: The worship place was built by Mihai The Brave. He united the Romanian provinces in 1600 A.D
You will always find someone at Mihai Voda Church in Bucharest from 7 A.M to 8 P.M, every day from Monday to Sunday. More about this place HERE.
MAP OF THE AREA
In the area, you can also visit OLD CITY OF BUCHAREST