Ecumenical tourism - an alternative to the classic holiday tourism

Dolj villages have a different air than the urban agglomerations, and this happens especially in winter, when everything seems quieter and more numb, but in a better way. A simpler, slower life, but with an emotional burden just as great sits quietly and expects its visitors.

In Dolj, monasteries have a special significance and, beyond their spiritual value, they have an exceptional architectural value. Receive only a few suggestions from us, ideal to see especially now, at Christmas time, when everything seems to be woven with a special magic.

Founded by the Craioveşti boyars since the beginning of the 16th century, the monastery in Sadova was, for a long time, an important place of worship in Wallachia. It was fortified by Matei Basarab in 1640, then Preda Brâncoveanu continued the work, the cells and the bell tower on the south side. Constantin Brâncoveanu was the one who built, in 1693, the church for the ill.

It is the oldest worship building in Craiova. Some claim that it was founded in the time of Peter and Asan brothers, before the year 1000. It is mentioned for the first time in 1645 as "Lordly Church of Craiova", founding of the Craiovești boyars, the first founder being Barbu Craiovescu. In 1651, it was rebuilt by Matei Basarab. It was restored from the foundations in 1890, and from 1939 it became the Metropolitan Cathedral, where all the metropolitans of Oltenia were installed: Nifon Criveanul, Firmilian Marin, Teoctist Arăpașu, Nestor Vornicescu, Teofan Savu and the current Metropolitan Irineu.

The old church was founded in 1952 by the former metropolitan of Oltenia, Firmilian. The church and the bell tower were built according to the plans of the architect Pencioiu, and in 2010 the big church was consecrated.

In a village with a history that is more than 2.000 years old, more specifically in Căciulătești (Dobrești village), you can find the ruins of an extremely old church, which bears the name of Saint Nicholas. Built between the 17th and 19th centuries, according to the official data of the Ministry of Culture, it was trampled by the Ottomans at the beginning of the 1800s, but then, on the same spot, another church was rebuilt. Impressive by the presence and architectural details that are still visible, this objective is essential for any visitor who really wants to feel the aroma of the past.

On the site of the current monastery there was, according to tradition, an old monastic dwelling. At nearly 15 meters from the altar of the present church, there is a stone cross with Cyrillic inscriptions, and the hill near the monastery is called "to the monks". The foundation of the current Cârcea Monastery was laid in 1967 but, due to the communist regime, it was not completed. After the Revolution in 1989, Metropolitan Nestor Vornicescu gave the blessing for the establishment of the monastery, which was consecrated in 1992.

Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu and Nicolae Iorga strengthen the information that attests the oldest testimony of the monastery in 1483, the first abbot being Eftimie. It was built, it seems, from the stone and brick of the old Roman fortress Pelendava. The monastery appears with the name "Coşuna" or "La Coșuna" in the Act of Metropolitan Eftimie of Wallachia and in the Act of Michael the Brave. The church - the only remaining building from the old monastery - was built in just 75 days, between July the 20th and October the 3rd, 1572, by the great Stepan and his son, Pârvu. The painting, particularly valuable, dates from 1574. Very important are the fresco from the altar and the nave, the Wall Chronicle from Bucovăț - a painted chronicle of the voivodes of Wallachia, as well as a painted synagogue, partially preserved.

The monastic settlement dates from the end of the fifteenth century - the beginning of the sixteenth century. According to tradition, the church was erected by Mircea the Elder, as a thank you after the battle of Rovine. Over the years, due to its strategic position and importance, the monastery was gifted by Craiovești, by Rulers and by Craiova landlords: by Radu Șerban Vodă, by Șerban and Ștefan Cantacuzino, but especially by Constantin Brâncoveanu. The church today, in triconch style, was built between 1654-1658 by Mrs. Bălașa, the wife of the ruler Constantin Basarab Cârnu. Constantin Brâncoveanu built the pavilions in 1701. In 1787, a bell was added to serve as a defense tower. During the Independence War, the place served as a shed depot and as a hospital for the soldiers. After secularization, it was an agricultural school, the church becoming a parish until 1914. It was reactivated and restored in 1928, by the care of Queen Mother Elena.

The church was built in the area called by the locals "to the logs", following the events that occured in the place where the three visions took place in which a shepherd, Petrache Lupu, spoke with God, three Fridays in a row: May 31st, June 7th and June 14th, 1935. The construction of the church began in 1938, at the initiative of some believers, together with Petrache Lupu, named by the locals "The Man of God". The monastery was closed during the communist period, being reopened immediately after the Revolution as a monastery of monks. Since 2010, it has been working as a nuns’ monastery.

The first wooden dwelling was built in 1678, by Hamza chancellor from Popânzălești and was dedicated to the Bishopric of Râmnic - New Severin. In 1853, Saint Hierarch Calinic, bishop of Râmnnic, sends here the hieromonk Lavrentie to rebuild the place. He sells some of the monastery properties and builds a brick church, which is then painted. Following the secularization, the monastery became a church of chrism, but it was re-established after 1989, becoming a monastery again. Currently, it has a community of nuns.

Photo: monumenteromania.ro, discoverdolj.ro, crestinortodox.ro, manastireamaglavit.ro, municipiulcalafat.ro, ziarullumina.ro