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- Dragomirna Monastery – Fortified SpiritualityThe Wooden Churches from Maramures – Orthodox GothicThe Trovants – Living StonesMarasesti Mausoleum – Honoring The SacrificeAgapia Monastery – Nature, Spirituality, ArtMysteries And Symbols In Romanian SculpturesSarmizegetusa Regia – The Heart of the Dacian KingdomTwo Sisters from Cluj-NapocaCraiova’s Art Museum – a Jewel Containing Other JewelsDecebalus Head at Mraconia – The Romanian Mount RushmoreCartisoara – The Memorial House of Badea CartanStavropoleos Monastery – Treasure Trove of Byzantine CultureBucharest Aviation Museum – Wings of HistoryRomanian Pyramids of Sona: Decebalus’ Tomb?Polovragi Cave Takes You Back in TimeThe Clock Museum from Ploiesti, RomaniaThe Cave From Romanesti – The Cave That RocksSighisoara Medieval FestivalCetatea Neamt – The Strongest Moldavian FortressThe Carpathians – A Cathartic ExperienceBanffy Bontida Medieval Castle – the Versailles of TransylvaniaUnseen Monasteries from Oltenia“George Enescu” Memorial HouseSapanta – The Merry CemeteryAdamclisi – Talking HistoryThe “B.P.Hasdeu“ Memorial MuseumThe Momarlani – A Special PeopleThe Berca Mud VolcanoesRasnov FortressLake Sfanta AnaFagaras FortressThe Palace of the Parliament in BucharestRomanian MotorcyclingTaking the Tour of BucharestThe Danube Delta – a wild land
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Stavropoleos Monastery – Treasure Trove of Byzantine Culture
As far as architecture is concerned, the Stavropoleos building ensemble is part of the Branconvenesc age, specially if you take into account its stone decorations, furniture, mural paintings (exterior and interior). The sculpted decorations and motifs show a Baroque-like sensitivity and a taste for oriental culture.
The inner paintings are impressive, specially because of their detail and the inclusion of all important icons. In the nave, you'll have the chance to see the "Angelic Liturgy", painted at the base of the church tower, also showing the 4 Evangelists. The side sections depict "Parusia" or the "Second Coming", on the southern side, while on the northern side you'll see "The Resurrection" or "Hell descent" depicted. Military saints are also shown in these images, together with "Deisis".
All's not old or aging here at Stavropoleos, since the monastery has started a virtual library project, meant to transform its old books into digital versions, in order to keep up with the times. The holy place will also allow its visitors to feast their ears, not only the eyes, by listening to Byzantine music sang by choirs. Specialists often call it neo-Byzantine music or Byzantine traditional music, in order to avoid any controversies regarding the space and time it was sung in.
This type of music is most fit to the community prayer and it was kept this way through the church's tradition of singing liturgical music. The choir will sing both the works of Macarie Ieromonahul, Nectarie Schimonahul, but also Greek works translated into Romanian or more contemporary pieces. The Stavropoleos Byzantine Choir dates from 1994 and heading it is archdeacon Gabriel Constantin Oprea, who chants at this church and also teaches Byzantine music at the National University of Music Bucharest.
You'll find the Stavropoleos Monastery in the old historic centre of Bucharest, behind the National History Museum, in a quiet area, surrounded by not so crowded streets.
Author: Alex Stanescu
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