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| 0310 Monastery of Horezu - The Church of Saints Constantine and His mother Helena (1) |
Posted on 15.08.2012, 16.01.2013, 02.09.2015
On 15/26 August 1714, when Romanians, as Orthodox Christians, celebrated Sântamaria Mare, or Adormirea Maicii Domnului (Dormition of the Theotokos, literally "Falling asleep of the God's Mother"), Constantin Brâncoveanu, former Prince of Wallachia, mazilit (deposed) and arrested by Ottomans few months ago, near Easter, was beheaded at Istanbul by order of sultan Ahmed III, together with all his four sons and his son-in-law and trusted counselor, Ienache Văcărescu, being accused that "gathered immense fortune and weapons to oppose and prepare an uprising." His death, followed by that of Ştefan Cantacuzino, also beheaded two years later, together with his father, Constantin Cantacuzino, marked the beginning of the Phanariote Epoch in Wallachia and Moldavia (the replacing of the local princes with rulers coming from the Istanbul's neighborhood named Fener, appointed by High Porte), a century of plunder and oppression that will not find equal than in the period following WWII.
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| 1869 Monastery of Horezu - The Church of Saints Constantine and His mother Helena (2) |
"Among the voivodes of Wallachia, none cherished and supported the culture as Brâncoveanu" wrote historian Constantin C. Giurescu in History of romanians. In his long reign (26 years) have taken a number of educational, literary, scientific and architectural initiatives, Brâncovenesc style of the buildings being the well known testimony of the remarkable cultural flowering that met Wallachia in that period. Located in the middle of a picturesque depression of Southern Carpathians, Hurezi Monastery (also known as the monastery of Horezu), "a synthesis of art and skill of the Romanian people until that time", is the most representative foundation of Brâncoveanu, and also the most important monastic site of Wallachia. Begun in 1690, "in the second year of our reign", as even the prince say, the building of the monastery, with painting, additions and various chapels, lasted until 1705, but essence was completed in 1697.
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| 0472 Monastery of Horezu - The Infirmary and its church |
The ensemble includes the proper monastery, the church of infirmary (Biserica Bolniţei), the Hermitage of the Saints Apostles (Schitul Sfinţii Apostoli), about 50m to the north (founded by the great starets Ioan Arhimandritul in 1698 and painted by Iosif and Ioan in 1700), and the Hermitage Saint Stephen (Schitul Sfântul Ştefan), named after the eldest son of prince (built in 1703 and painted by Ianache, Istrate and Harinte).Hurezi monastery has two enclosures. In the first, outer, bounded by walls of brick, is the first gate and a building with floor. The second enclosure is rectangular, closed on three sides by buildings with floor, and on the fourth with a high wall. In the middle of the enclosure is the main church, having as patron saints Sfinţii Împăraţi (the Saints Emperors, Constantine and Elena). It's a simplified interpretation of the Episcopal Church of Curtea de Argeş.
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| 0473 Monastery of Horezu - The relics of 11 Holy Martyrs |
The ensamble of infirmary, seated, as were the rules, outside the walls of the monastery, consists of a pavilion, the monks cells, that are today in ruins, and the church erected in the center. The church, which is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, was founded by Doamna Maria, the wife of Constantin Brâncoveanu, and by the supervision of works took care even the abbot, the Archimandrite Ioan. Works started in 1696 and ended in 1699 with the painting of the church by the craftsmen listed above the entrance door: Preda, Nicolae and Efrem. The church has no narthex, having only altar, nave and porch. In a reliquary in the monastery are little parts of the relics of the Saints: Andrew the Apostle, Panteleon, Mercurie, Mina, Fevronia, Haralambie, Procopie, Teodor Tiron and Minodora; a second reliquary contain little parts of the relics of the Saints: Philip the Apostle, Martyr Marina şi Hierarch Mihail.
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