Tucked in the small village of Voroneț, Romania, you can find what is known at the “Sistine Chapel of the East”: the great Voroneț Monastery.
The Romanian Orthodox Voroneț Monastery is one of a string of “painted monasteries” in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, built mostly in the 15th and 16th centuries. Voroneț Monastery specifically was built in 1488 over a period of 3 months and 3 weeks, and is dedicated to St. George.
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The monastery was abandoned around 1775 due to political instability, and a monastic community didn’t return until more than two hundred years later in 1991.
The building is famous for its beautiful frescoes and icons, both inside and out, which is how it got its nickname as the “Sistine Chapel of the East.”
Below are some great photos of the beautiful sacred building. You can click on any image to view it full size.
Enjoy!
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