In 1960 at Varatec Monastery, in the buildings from the left side of the architectural complex, was organized a museum with religious objects. What makes this collection different from the ones from Agapia Monastery and Neamt Monastery is that here you’ll see objects not only from Varatec Monastery but also from other monasteries as well: sculptures, embroideries, old fabrics, icons, crosses, clothes and ornaments.

The Religious Collection from Varatec Monastery hosts some of the oldest wood painted icons, from XV century that pictures St Nicolae or Archangels Mihail and Gavril brought from Rasca Monastery – Falticeni. From XVI century there is an icon with St Maria with Jesus, brought from Valeni, painted on wood in the byzantine style. You can also see a series of small icons from XVII century and the icon “Maica Domnului Dolorosa” (“Mother of God Dolorosa”) painted by Eftimie. From Topolita Hermitage there some icons with Jesus and St Maria painted by ieromonahul Tiufan (ieromonah is a religious title that refers to a monk that is also a priest) in 1697.

Truly impressive are also other icons of St Maria and Jesus that are present in the religious collection from Varatec Monastery and that dates from 1661, 1179 and 1859. The icon from 1859 was painted by Nicolae Grigorescu and displays St Maria with baby Jesus together with angels.

The museum is impressive with its multitude of religious objects: wooden sculpted crosses, discs, chalices, candlesticks and more. One of the most important items is Evanghelia (The Gospel) printed in 1821 by Veniamin Costache at Neamt Monastery and the Greek Evangheliar printed in Venice in 1811.

Come visit the museum from Varatec Monastery, in Neamt County and enjoy a journey into our history and witness the beauty of handmade objects like crosses, icons or carpets.