Agapia Monastery
Year Built: 1642-1644
Built By: Vasile Lupu
Location: Târgu Neamţ
Summary: The church was repaired and modified several times during the centuries. At present, the church has two exonarthexes, a pronaos, a naos with its tower, and a chancel, as well as an external diaconicon and prothesis on either side of the chancel.
The inscription on the wall of the church dedicated to Archangels Michael and Gabriel says: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, I, slave of God hetman Gavriil and my wife Liliana, made and endowed this Agapia Monastery again, during the days of the right believer and lover of Christ Prince Vasile Lupu. And the construction started in the year 7150 (1642), October, the 15th day, and was completed in 7152 (1644), September, the 3rd, and was consecrated in 7155 (1647), September, the 12th”. After the consecration, many of the monks of Old Agapia moved downhill, and little by little, a real monastery was built around the church.
The Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel was designed by the court architect of Vasile Lupu, a certain Ionasc Ctisi, possibly originating from Constantinople. The Metropolitan of Moldavia, Varlaam, officiated at the consecration ceremony, which Vasile Lupu himself attended. On this occasion, hetman Gavriil, who was the brother of Prince Lupu, donated to the monastery a Gospel book written on parchment and decorated with miniatures of the Evangelists, as well as a silver gilt filigree cross with eight arms.
Contact:
Address: Agapia, 617010, Neamt County
Phone: + 40 (233) 244736
e-mail: cancelarie@agapia.neamt.ro