The Sacred Cross Church of Patrauti is rumored to have been founded around 1330 by Petru.
It is located only ten kilometers from Suceava city in Romania.
It is the home of one of the eight preserved monasteries that has been included on the UNESCO list of ancient churches in this country.
One thing that Patrauti, or Sacred Cross Church shares in common with other monasteries in the region is the beautiful frescoed walls on the interior and exterior.
The paintings depict times in the life of Jesus Christ and portraits of prophets and saints.
This church is considered to be the oldest church that was founded by Stephen the Great during his rule.
It is said to have been founded in 1487.
During his rule Stephen the Great often founded churches after his army won a battle because he was a deeply religious man.
The church has suffered many indignities during its life.
It was plundered by the Cossacks, then again by the Tatars, and then by the Poles.
When you enter the nave of this ancient structure the evidence of the assaults can be seen.
The plaster that formed the altar, the narthex and the vault area was severely damaged, and the evidence of that damage remains today to show people what happened here.
During the eighteenth century the bishop Calistru of Cernauti made the necessary repairs to the structure and he reestablished it as a monastery for the nuns of Patrauti.
The exterior fresco painting that is on the walls of this church is considered to possibly be the oldest fresco painting still in existence in Moldova.
On the western exterior wall is a scene depicting the Last Judgment? On the interior of the church the paintings are some of the highest quality art renditions to be seen in a church or monastery of the time.
Most of the work is centered on a golden ocher hue and this coloration is actually called the yellow of Patrauti.
Many of the depictions on the interior walls have deteriorated due to the assaults of time and man, but one scene on the western interior wall, known as the Cavalcade of the Holy Cross stills retains all of the glory and beauty that it had when it was commissioned by Stephen the Great.
The scene depicts an army of military saints that were killed during the antichristian persecutions, and it is one of the most touching paintings you will ever lay eyes on.
The scene is not historically correct, but it is emotionally fraught.
It takes place in Haven and is considered to be the most important painting ensemble located in the church.
A visit to this ancient church will reveal to you some of the architectural qualities that structures once had.
There was a time when a church was more than just some wooden beams and plaster.
The churches of the past were highly decorated and the fresco on the exterior and interior of the monasteries like this one prove to us that something can be built to last.
The reservation of these artifacts is now part of the job of UNESCO, but until this time they have been looked after by the church, the nuns, and other sectors of the communities that they were established in.
There grounds have been kept up and their surfaces have been well cared for.
The wooden portions on the interior of this structure have been kept in pristine condition through all of these years.
It is located only ten kilometers from Suceava city in Romania.
It is the home of one of the eight preserved monasteries that has been included on the UNESCO list of ancient churches in this country.
One thing that Patrauti, or Sacred Cross Church shares in common with other monasteries in the region is the beautiful frescoed walls on the interior and exterior.
The paintings depict times in the life of Jesus Christ and portraits of prophets and saints.
This church is considered to be the oldest church that was founded by Stephen the Great during his rule.
It is said to have been founded in 1487.
During his rule Stephen the Great often founded churches after his army won a battle because he was a deeply religious man.
The church has suffered many indignities during its life.
It was plundered by the Cossacks, then again by the Tatars, and then by the Poles.
When you enter the nave of this ancient structure the evidence of the assaults can be seen.
The plaster that formed the altar, the narthex and the vault area was severely damaged, and the evidence of that damage remains today to show people what happened here.
During the eighteenth century the bishop Calistru of Cernauti made the necessary repairs to the structure and he reestablished it as a monastery for the nuns of Patrauti.
The exterior fresco painting that is on the walls of this church is considered to possibly be the oldest fresco painting still in existence in Moldova.
On the western exterior wall is a scene depicting the Last Judgment? On the interior of the church the paintings are some of the highest quality art renditions to be seen in a church or monastery of the time.
Most of the work is centered on a golden ocher hue and this coloration is actually called the yellow of Patrauti.
Many of the depictions on the interior walls have deteriorated due to the assaults of time and man, but one scene on the western interior wall, known as the Cavalcade of the Holy Cross stills retains all of the glory and beauty that it had when it was commissioned by Stephen the Great.
The scene depicts an army of military saints that were killed during the antichristian persecutions, and it is one of the most touching paintings you will ever lay eyes on.
The scene is not historically correct, but it is emotionally fraught.
It takes place in Haven and is considered to be the most important painting ensemble located in the church.
A visit to this ancient church will reveal to you some of the architectural qualities that structures once had.
There was a time when a church was more than just some wooden beams and plaster.
The churches of the past were highly decorated and the fresco on the exterior and interior of the monasteries like this one prove to us that something can be built to last.
The reservation of these artifacts is now part of the job of UNESCO, but until this time they have been looked after by the church, the nuns, and other sectors of the communities that they were established in.
There grounds have been kept up and their surfaces have been well cared for.
The wooden portions on the interior of this structure have been kept in pristine condition through all of these years.
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