St. John Monastery
From the beginning of the 15th century, the ancient Suceava voivode fortress has the relics of one of the most famous saints honored from Moldova, namely Saint John. The current church of the monastery, dedicated to the Holy Martyr George, was begun in 1514 by the son of Ștefan cel Mare, Bogdan III cel Orb (1505-1517) and finished by Ştefăniţă (1517 – 1527) in 1522.
Until the second half of the 17th century, at the Monastery of St. John was the residence of Moldavian metropolitans. The church, being the metropolitan cathedral, with the necessary space for the ceremonies attended by the princely rulers, differs from the other voivodal constitutions by suppressing the tomb room. As with any metropolitan or archbishop’s center, there were skilled calligraphers, engravers in wood and metal, teachers of Moldovan language, greks and glory. A theological school functioned here as well. The relics of St. John, martyred in 1332, which were brought to Suceava in 1402 by Voivode Alexandru cel Bun, are preserved in the church. The church was painted outside and inside in 1534 during the reign of Petru Rareș. The painting was executed in fresco after Byzantine hermeneutics. It was cleaned by smoke and refreshed in the years 1906 – 1909 by the painter Iohann Viertelberger.
How do I get to St. John Monastery?
Suceava – Mitropoliei Street
Tags: Bogdan al III-lea cel Orb, Petru Rares, Religie, Sf. Ioan cel Nou de la Suceava