Snagov Monastery
The Snagov Monastery (Romanian: Mănăstirea Snagov), also known as the Vlad Țepeș Monastery (Romanian: Mănăstirea Vlad Țepeș) is a medieval monastery and important historical monument located in southern Romania in the county of Ilfov, on an island in the northern reaches of Lake Snagov, belonging to the commune of Snagov, and in geographical proximity to the village of Siliștea Snagovului, in the Gruiu commune.
Mănăstirea Snagov | |
The Snagov Monastery in 2008 | |
Location within Romania | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Vlad Țepeș Monastery |
| Denomination | Romanian Orthodox |
| Established | 1408 |
| Dedicated to | Vlad the Impaler Neagoe Basarab Anthim the Iberian Annunciation |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Mircea the Elder |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Mircea the Elder Vlad III Neagoe Basarab |
| Style | Byzantine |
| Completion date | 1408 |
| Site | |
| Location | Snagov, Ilfov |
| Country | Romania |
| Coordinates | 44°43′46.32″N 26°10′32.622″E |
| Public access | yes |
An old center of Orthodox spirituality and culture, it stands on the foundations of an old Thracian settlement.
The monastery is probably one of the late foundations of Mircea the Elder, being first documented in 1408. It has been rebuilt several times by other rulers, among whom we can mention Vlad Țepeș, Mircea Ciobanul, and Neagoe Basarab.
Currently, only the church, the bell tower and a fountain are still standing. The other buildings on the island are either recently built, or old ruins.
The church has two patron saints, Saint Voivode Neagoe Basarab, the founder of the current church, and Saint Anthim the Iberian, abbot of the monastery. Their feast days are the 26 and 27 September, respectively. The church also celebrates the Presentation of Mary on 21 November.
The island was ceded free of charge to the Romanian Patriarchate by the commune of Snagov and it is currently administered by the Archdiocese of Bucharest.