The Patriarch of Romania and Primate of the Czech Lands and Slovakia at Agapia Monastery

15/10/2012

On 14 October 2012, in the afternoon, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church and His Beatitude Hristofor, Primate Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia visited Agapia Monastery, county of Neamt. The two Primates were accompanied by His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina and by His Grace Ioachim Bacauanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacau.

On this occasion, His Grace Calinic Botosaneanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Iasi celebrated a thanksgiving service.

In the blessing speech delivered here, the Patriarch of Romania spoke about the important role of the monastic settlement in the education of the youth, because a seminar for girls was set up here in 1990, under the protection of Saint Pious Parascheva. He also appreciated the consolidation works made during the last few years at the church monastery. At the same time, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel offered the monastery a blessing cross and several liturgical books.

The abbess of the monastic place took turns in offering His Beatitude, as a sign of appreciation, an icon of Saints Michael and Gabriel the Archangels, protectors of Agapia Monastery and several books on the history of the monastic settlement dating as far back as the 16th century.

Agapia Monastery, also named New Agapia to distinguish it from Old Agapia skete, is a convent situated on the valley of the brook Agapia, 9 km far from Targu Neamt city. The history of Agapia Monastery is closely related to the history of Old Agapia skete or Agapia on the hill. The name of Agapia comes from hermit Agapie who lived in the meadow where Old Agapia Monastery is situated today. Because the monastery on the hill is hard to reach, some of the monks settled here after 1600, where they built a wooden church.

Source: