The story of one of the most beautiful Orthodox monasteries in Romania. How was it saved from demolition
Located only 250 meters from the Constitution Square in the Capital, the Antim Monastery is a true architectural jewel. The monastery was made according to the plans drawn up by the great hierarch Antim Ivireanul.
Antim Monastery, an architectural jewel Denis Grigorescu
The Antim Monastery is considered to be one of the most beautiful Orthodox monasteries in Romania and was erected at the beginning of the eighteenth century, more precisely between 1713-1715, on the place where in the old days there was an old wooden church.
In the beginning, the Antim Monastery, near the Metropolitan Hill, had the form of a city, with the church in its center.
The well-known monastery is the only one erected in the Romanian Country during the eighteenth century, having the plan in three-shaped form.
Above the door at the entrance to the monastery can be admired the carved decoration of the emblem of Saint Antim, the snail, a symbol of faith and humility.
Also at the entrance, the massive oak door was carved by Saint Antim, being considered an artistic achievement of the exception of that era.
In May 1738, after an earthquake, the two original brick towers of the Antim Monastery collapsed, being subsequently replaced with two wooden towers.
The monastery has been restored several times Photo Denis Grigorescu
The Antim Monastery was first restored between 1746-1747. A second major restoration was between 1860 and 1863, thanks to Bishop Clement of Argeș. An important detail: at the second restoration, the painting of the icons in the catapeteasm was made by the great artist Gheorghe Tătărăscu. At the reopening of the Antim Monastery after the second restoration, the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza himself participated.
During the First World War, the relics of Saint Filofteia from Curtea de Argeș were hidden at the Antim Monastery.
“The non-Byzantine painting in the porch and inside the Antim Monastery turrets was made by the well-known painter Costin Petrescu, and Olga Greceanu made the superb mosaic from the monastery porch. The last integral and large restoration was between 1964-1966”says history teacher Constantin Vasilescu.
Since 1950, the Antim Monastery has become a patriarchal paraclis, but also an episcopal residence, a solution due to which it was avoided to demolish the monastery by the communists.
