{"id":571672,"date":"2026-05-13T11:28:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=571672"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:28:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:28:02","slug":"mihai-voda-monastery-reactivated-bucharest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/mihai-voda-monastery-reactivated-bucharest\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Mihai Vod\u0103 Monastery in Bucharest reactivated with new monastic community"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Romanian capital has gained a new monastic settlement through the reactivation of Mihai Vod\u0103 Monastery. Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova and Archimandrite Nectarie \u0218ofelea installed the abbess of the monastery on Saturday, May 9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nun Cipriana T\u0103nase comes from the community of R\u00e2me\u021b Monastery, where she was a disciple of Stavrophore Ierusalima Ghibu, who recently reposed in the Lord.<\/p>\n

The spiritual father of the new Bucharest monastery, Hieroschemamonk Iosif Cisma\u0219, also comes from Transylvania, having previously served at Alma\u0219 Skete and later at Arad-Gai Monastery.<\/p>\n

Archimandrite Nectarie \u0218ofelea read the decree of installation, while Assistant Bishop Timotei of\u00a0 Prahova handed the abbess her pastoral staff and delivered a brief address on the monastery\u2019s history and the spiritual lineage of the new community.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us pray for the new community\u201d<\/h2>\n
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The Mihai Vod\u0103 Monastery in Bucharest has been reactivated. Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova and Archimandrite Nectarie \u015eofelea installed the abbess on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe must pray wholeheartedly \u2014 the priests at the altar and everyone else in their personal prayer \u2014 that Fr Iosif, sister Cipriana and sister Agripina may receive help, inspiration, consolation and much patience,\u201d said the assistant bishop.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if we were to quote Saint Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria, we would have to repeat for minutes on end the word patience, which he considered the foremost virtue of the monk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us pray with all our hearts, each according to his measure and love, for this community which is now stepping onto a path of tradition that had been temporarily interrupted,\u201d His Grace continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd let us tell those here \u2014 the priest and the two nuns \u2014 not to fear, little flock, keeping their gaze fixed upon the Shepherd and Comforter, upon the One who will always find, beyond waves, trials or calm weather, the path they must follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bucharest residents seek spiritual oases in the city<\/h2>\n
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Abbess Cipriana T\u0103nase comes from R\u00e2me\u021b Monastery. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Abbess Cipriana T\u0103nase recalled the history of the monastery, founded by Prince Michael the Brave after Saint Nicholas of Myra saved him from death.<\/p>\n

She also recalled the rescue of the church through relocation engineering carried out by engineer Eugen Iord\u0103chescu during the period when Nicolae Ceau\u0219escu was restructuring Bucharest\u2019s civic centre.<\/p>\n

The abbess also spoke about the monastery\u2019s wonderworking icon of the Mother of God \u201cThe Directress\u201d, painted on Mount Athos, noting that a monastic paraman is painted on the reverse side of the icon.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the few days since I arrived here, I have noticed that people stop here before going to work, venerate the icons, participate in the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion. After work, they come here again and do the same. They are eager, they love Christ, and they have a special devotion to this icon,\u201d Nun Cipriana T\u0103nase said.<\/p>\n

The abbess stressed that although Bucharest is a noisy city, people can still find peace if they remember that they are surrounded by saints.<\/p>\n

Sharing the peace acquired in the wilderness<\/h2>\n
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Hieroschemamonk Iosif Cisma\u0219 is the spiritual father of the re-established monastery. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBoth I and the nuns truly lived in the wilderness, and each of us is aware that God brought us out from there, God took us and brought us here, and God gives us the strength not to feel that our bond with Him has changed,\u201d the monastery\u2019s spiritual father, Hieroschemamonk Iosif Cisma\u0219, told Trinitas TV.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I hope, and ask for the prayers of the Mother of God and of Saint Nicholas, that our coming here may become a sharing of the peace that we acquired with difficulty over decades, and which may somehow be an undeserved divine gift that we wholeheartedly wish to share with those who, amid the noise of a city, seek peace and the Giver of peace in the depths of their souls.\u201d<\/p>\n