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TheSinaia Monastery, located inSinaia, inPrahova County,Romania, was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino in 1695 and named after the greatSaint Catherine's Monastery onMount Sinai inEgypt. As of 2005, it is inhabited by 13 Christian Orthodox monks led byhegumen Macarie Boguș. It is part of theArchdiocese of Bucharest.
Situated in thePrahova Valley, the monastery gave its name to the nearby town ofSinaia. The monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre of each courtyard there is a small church built in theByzantine style. One of them—"Biserica Veche" (The Old Church)—dates from 1695, while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to theCantacuzino family, as well as the earliestRomanian translation of theBible, dated 1668.
Take Ionescu, former Prime Minister of Romania, is buried on the grounds.
Prince (Spătarul) Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage toMount Sinai. The first buildings were completed between 1690 and 1695. It was designed to serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route fromBrasov toBucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate theTwelve Apostles, but in time the number of monks grew.
In the midst of theRusso-Turkish War, 1735–1739, before deserting the monastery, monks hid the valuables by burying them inside a bell. During a battle, the Turks defeated troops stationed within the walls of the monastery. The Ottomans burned the area and broke through the wall in two places.
Until 1850,Sinaia consisted of little more than the monastery and a group of huts. In 1864, however, the monastic estate was assigned to the Board of Civil Hospitals (Eforia Spitalelor Civile), which opened a hospital and severalbaths, and helped developmineral springs in Sinaia.
In 1948, the monastery was put under the patronage of theArchdiocese of Bucharest from the Board of Civil Hospitals. TheRomanian Patriarch,Justinian Marina, restored the buildings between the years 1951 and 1957 with money from the Archdiocese. During this period, the whole monastery was fitted with running water, electricity, and natural gas. Thanks to the efforts ofKing Carol I, the Great Church of the monastery became the first church to use electric lights in Romania.
The Old Church was built in 1695. In 2006, it was closed to begin a restoration project to return it to its former beauty. The original interior painting was completed byPârvu Mutu and were restored for the first time in 1795. The Old Church has reopened as of 2016.
Under the leadership of Hegumens Ioasaf and Paisie, construction of The Great Church began in 1842 using funds allocated by the monastery and was completed in 1846. This smaller structure was enlarged by the Board of Civil Hospitals during a period from 1897 to 1903. These efforts gave the building the appearance it has today.
Created by architectGeorge Mandrea, the structure utilizes theMoldavian style and theBrâncovenesc style fromWalachia. It is said that the belt of three green enamel lines that encircle the building represent the unity of theHoly Trinity in one God and the unity of theThree Romanian Kingdoms in one country.
The gold mosaic paintings were created by Danish artistAage Exner in a typical neo-Byzantine style. The main illustrations show five persons:
The furniture was made of wood (sycamore, maple, and oak) by Constantin Babic and his students at the Bucharest Art School (Ṣcoala de Arte si Meserii). The King's throne displays the royal emblem and the mottoNihil sine Deo (Nothing without God). The Queen's throne is embossed with the letters E.D.[1] Both thrones are gold-plated.
The two Russian icons, ofSaint Serghei andSaint Nicholas, were a gift fromTsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1903. They were presented to the Hegumen Nifon Arhimandritul for the baptism ofPrince Nicholae, son ofKing Ferdinand.
A remarkable piece adorning the monastery is theepitaphios by Anna Roth, made of silk and gold on a cotton base. It took three years (from 1897 to 1900) to finish.
During the leadership of HegumenNifon Popescu (1888–1909), a large bell tower was added to the monastery walls. It was completed in 1892. The 1,700-kilogram (3,700 lb) bell was brought from theColțea Tower in Bucharest.
In 1895 the museum of the monastery was opened, the first exhibition of religious objects in Romania. It holds collections of icons and crosses from the 17th century, the very first Bible in Romanian (Bucharest, 1688), and many other precious objects. The museum is open every day but Mondays, from April to October 10:00-16:00 and during winter time only for groups over 20. Fee: 5 lei (2 lei for students).
The monastery is nearby Peleş Castle and it can be reached by train asSinaia railway station is just 'downstairs' from the monastery. It is also accessible by road.
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