Agapia Convent

The convent seems to have taken its name from the hermit Agape, who erected the first monastic site around 1380, in Agapia Veche. The current religious establishment, 2 km downstream from the former, was commissioned by the Minister of War [“hatman”] Gavril, Prince Vasile Lupu’s brother, in 1644. Throughout the centuries, the monastery underwent repeated looting, destruction, or even fires, but it was restored and consolidated time and time again.

The inside painting adds a special value to this monument as it was painted by the very young Nicolae Grigorescu between 1858 and 1860 in a Neo-classical style with many innovative elements. The masterpiece of the future-to-be great painter is crowned by three remarkable paintings, i.e. St George’s Portrait on the altar door, Entry to Jerusalem and Virgin Mary with Jesus in Her Arms. On the cupola of the nave vault, there is the painting of Jesus Christ Pantocrator [“Christ in Majesty”], reigning over a rainbow that highlights the Romanian three-coloured flag.

It is the only monastic establishment in the country that bears the name of “Christian love” (from the Greek agape), and in terms of size, it is the largest convent in Romania, second only to Văratec.

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