Secu Monastery

The beginnings of the old monastic settlement in the commune of Vânători-Neamţ are connected to the hermitage Zosima the hermit settled here in 1530. The small church of the hermitage was commissioned by Prince Petru Rareş (1527-1546), on the site of the current church in the monastery graveyard. Then, Nestor Ureche, the high “vornic” [Minister of Internal Affairs] and father of the chronicler Grigore Ureche, commissioned a new church, in 1602, dedicated to St John’s the Baptist Beheading, and part of the households implements necessary to the monastic community.

The monastery was repeatedly affected by foreign invasions but the greatest damage was suffered in 1821, when the Eterist fugitives to Neamţ barricaded here, resisting the siege of the Ottoman troops. Their assault caused many casualties and significant damage as the holy settlement was burnt down. The entire complex bearing visible influences from Wallachia was rebuilt later on, owing to the monks’ efforts. Its stronghold aspect, the beauty of its religious objects and art works, the gilded lime tree wood iconostasis – sculpted in Baroque style – impress the visitor.

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