Sightseeing in Moldova: The Japca Monastery - between conservatism and modernity
Chișinău / Moldova.ORG/ -- One of the biggest and most beautiful monasteries in Moldova is, undoubtedly, the Japca monastery.
The foundation of the monastery is lost in the mists of time.
A legend tells the that by the end of the seventeenth century, a monk named Ezekiel, from the Deleni monastery, on the right side of the Prut river, dug into the steep cliffs of the Dniester river a cave monastery and a church dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross where he lived with several brothers.
The second founder is the monk Theodosius, who rebuilt the hermitage in 1770, after it had suffered from an earthquake and was devastated by the Tartars.
In 1825, a large landowner, Constantin Andronovich Stati, built here a stone church dedicated to the Ascension. Another official from Chisinau, Mihai Lobov, built here a church dedicated to St. Archangel Michael in 1849.
During World War I, the monks were being transferred to the Harjauca monastery and nuns were brought here from the Orthodox monastery of Lesna, Poland.
Having cave roots, like many other monasteries in Moldova, Japca was the only monastery which was not closed during the Soviet rule.
In 1959, it was devastated and about to be closed but reopened in 1964 through Moscow interventions.
Today it is one of the best decorated monasteries in Moldova, being repaired a few years ago.
Although we are in the XXI century, a computerization and technology development era, there is no electricity at the Japca monastery, as it is considered "evil".
Services are carred in old Slavonic, no meat eating and visiting the monastery by strangers is regarded with hostility. Still, all that conservative air attract more tourists.
The Japca monastery attracts visitors both due to its beauty and spirituality of the place, and the presence of healing mineral water springs.
Distance from Chisinau: 160 km north.
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