The beauty of Romanian painted monasteries
The Voroneț and Humor monasteries are located in the South Bukovina area. Since 1993, together with six other churches, they have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are known around the world mainly for their frescoes on the outer walls in extremely bright and vibrant colors.
Voroneț Monastery
The first of the visited monasteries Voroneț. The monastery was founded by Stephen III. The great one, who visited the hermit Daniel in his hut in Voronezh at the moment of the crisis in the fight against the Turks and asked him for advice. After the victory, he kept his promise and founded a monastery dedicated to St. Jiří. An entry above the original entrance says that the church was built in 1488. From 1785, after the conquest of Bukovina Habsburg, the monastery was abandoned. He came to life again with the arrival of the sisters in 1991.
The shape of the church
Voroneț is one of the most visited monasteries in Romania. The church is built in the shape of a cross with three apses. There is a tower above the ship. In the monastery is the tomb of the first abbot – St. Daniel the Hermit.
Frescoes
The monastery church is often called the Sistine Chapel of the East, the intense blue hue of its frescoes is known in Romania as the „Voronezh Blue“.
Humor Monastery
The second monastery visited is Humor. The original monastery dates from 1415, its remains are located about 500 m from the current monastery. He had the monastery built in 1530, resp. to restore the nobleman Toader Bubuiog. The monastery soon became one of the most important in the country. The monastery was looted several times. Walls and a watchtower were built in 1641, but that didn't seem to help much either. In 1775 the monastery was abolished. In 1992, the monastic community was restored.
Frescoes
Compared to the previous monastery, this one does not have a tower, so compared to similar churches, it seems to be smaller. Its walls are decorated with paintings inside and out. The entire east wall is reserved for the display of the Last Judgment.
New church
In 1980, a new parish church was built in the immediate vicinity of the Humor Monastery.