| GPS | (47.866069793701; 25.596523284912) |
| district | Suceava |
| region | Putna |
| locality | Putna |
| address | |
| category | Religious attractions |
| year | 1470 |
| ethnic | Romanians |
portant monuments of Romania. This monastery was built with the purpose of serving as resting place for the prince Stephen the Great and for his family. The construction started on July 10, 1466, by building the church, which was consecrated three years later, on the September 3, 1470. This event was very special, benefiting from the presence of the prince and a group of 64 priests and deacons, led by the Metropolitan Teoctist, the one who had anointed Stephen the Great as prince. In time, the church will be surrounded by a thick stone wall, to which a lordly house, all the necessary cells and other outbuildings will be added. Unfortunately, the monastery will be first destroyed in 1481 during a strong fire which will affect the monastery. This is mentioned on two inscriptions on the treasury and on the entrance towers. Although some of the initial decorative elements are lost, the discs and enamelled bricks and the church still keeps the physiognomy and the initial plan. It is 33m high and 11m wide, being compartmentalised from the start in porch, narthex, the burial room (the crypt), the nave and the sanctuary. The porch has three large Gothic windows and the church is accessed through this porch. The burial room has also a special significance, because Stephen the Great and Holy (1457- 2 July 1504) is buried here. The Carrara marble gravestone is placed under a beautiful canopy, and like the sarcophagus, they have decorative ornaments represented by oak leafs which prevail, the palmettes and stalks making four medallions in shape of a heart arranged with the head upwards. Near the grave of the prince, it is the grave of his second wife, Maria of Mangup (1513), whose gravestone has oriental decorations. Two of the Stephen the Great children, Peter (1479) and Bogdan (1481), are also buried here. Putna Monastery had also an important cultural role, demonstrated by the writings which can be seen at the special museum established in the monastery complex. The first calligraphers and miniaturists who wrote during the reign of Stephen ”The Menologion of April” (1467), ”Sayings of St John Chrysostom” (1470), ”Tetraevangelion” (1473) etc. came here from Neamt. Also, during the early XVth century, the chronicles known as the ”Chronicle of Putna I” and ” Chronicle of Putna II” will be copied. Here, a large number of religious objects were created, some of them forming part of the museum’s collection. They include: ” Tetraevangelion from Humor” (1473), which presents a miniature with the prince's face; Maria of Mangup grave covering; the epitaph of the queens Eitimia and Eupraxia (the XIVth century), holiday stole (before 1840) and many other embroideries, icons, books, latches or other objects found by the archaeologists. This place developed into a national symbol of the Romanian' struggle for freedom and unit, different events taking place over time. Another objective which needs to be visited in relation to Putna Monastery is the cell of Daniil Sihastrul, not far away from the confluence of Putna with Vițeu stream. The name of this hermit is related to that of Stephen since he was considered the counsellor of the prince in times of hardship for Moldavia. This counsellor carved himself in stone the cell where he lived, and towards the end of his days he will go to Voroneț Monastery, where he will be buried.
