Cotmeana Monastery, Romania Cotmeana Monastery, situated in Arges, is the oldest monastery of Wallachia (the South part of actual Romania). It was built in the middle of the forest, near Cotmeana river, by the Romanian ruler, Radu I (1377-1386) and later on, the King Mircea the Old (1386-1418) decided to restore the church’s monastery, the work being carried on for two years, from 1387 until 1389. The feudal assembly founded by Mircea the Old was restored by Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714), ruler of Wallachia, in 1711. He ordered the replacement of window’s stone frames, because he wanted, according to the documents of that time, a place that would not perish over time. Indeed, during Hieromonk Hilarion, it is decided the increase of the narthex. Also, porch is added on the north side of the church that even today can be admired. Anyway, regarding the length of the church, there are many theories, one claiming that the settlement would date back since 1292, the proof being the architectural style and even the name Cotmeana. The church, built of brick, is decorated outside, under the jagged cornice, with colored ceramics discs used for a decorative purpose for the first time in Wallachia. In the church patrimony, there is the oldest bell in Wallachia, given by master Dragomir in 1385. The bell has a quite exciting history. As it is well-known, during World War I, the German-Hungarian allies melted almost all the bells, regardless of age, except one, who was the oldest, namely that in the Cotmeana monastery. Also the despair of the communists should be recalled, who in 1960, in turn, melted the bells, too. Cotmeana Monastery is a monument of architectural synthesis, representative for the assimilation and development of the Wallachian architecture from XIV-th century: the external wall from bricks, the decorations are made in Byzantine - Balcanic style, characteristic for XIII-th and XIV-th c3enturies, and the bells are manufactured at the beginning of the XIV-th century. Between years 1995 and 2005, near the old Cotmeana monastery a new orthodox complex was built. This monastery complex became an active center of the religious life of Christians, but also a place which attracts a lot of visitors.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 04:30:02 +0000
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