topum

A couple of weeks ago I had a meeting across the border in the Romanian part of Moldova, in the city of Piatra Neamt. We hope to start a project there this winter. The city is surrounded by the mountains and would also be a nice place to spend some time in winter with all the skiing at our doorstep.

Before driving back to Moldova we visited the Bistrita Monastery just about 5 miles away from Piatra Neamt. The monastery was dedicated in 1402. It's main relic is the miracle-working icon of Saint Anne, which was given as a present to the monastery in 1407 by Lady Ana, Voivode Alexandru I's wife. Apparently the icon was given as a "patronage gift" to Lady Ana by empress Jelena, wife of Manuel II Palaiologos, emperor of Constantinople.

I really liked the church where the icon is located. It was different from the more modern Romanian and Moldovan Orthodox churches and reminded me of the Mount Athos churches. Old monks were sitting randomly on the floor in the darkness reading huge old books in candle light, mumbling something and not paying any attention to us. We were the only visitors at the time.

The monastery also has an important collection of medieval art in its museum.