Voroneţ

Introducing Voroneţ

The Last Judgment fresco, which fills the entire western wall of the Voroneţ Monastery (adult/child €1.20/0.60; 8am-8pm), is perhaps the most marvellous Bucovine fresco. At the top, angels roll up the signs of the zodiac to indicate the end of time. The middle fresco shows humanity being brought to judgment. On the left, St Paul escorts the believers, while on the right Moses brings forward the nonbelievers. Below is the Resurrection.

On the northern wall is Genesis, from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel. The southern wall features a tree of Jesse with the genealogy of biblical personalities. In the vertical fresco to the left is the story of the martyrdom of St John of Suceava (who is buried in the Monastery of Sfântu Ioan cel Nou in Suceava). The vibrant, almost satiny blue pigment used throughout the frescoes is known worldwide as ‘Voroneţ blue’.

In the narthex lies the tomb of Daniel the Hermit, the first abbot of Voroneţ Monastery. It was upon the worldly advice of Daniel, who told Ştefan cel Mare not to give up his battle against the Turks, that the Moldavian prince went on to win further victories against the Turks and then to build Voroneţ Monastery out of gratitude to God.

In 1785 the occupying Austrians forced Voroneţ’s monks to abandon the monastery. Since 1991 the monastery has been inhabited by a small community of nuns.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009