Voronet Monastery

Voronet Monastery was founded by Stephen the Great, ruling prince of Moldavia, to fulfill a pledge to Daniil, a hermit who had encouraged him to chase the Turks from Wallachiia. After defeating the Turks, Stephen erected Voronet in less than four months. This monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as 'Voronet blue. The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was built. Monastic life at Voronet was interrupted in 1785 under Habsburg rule. It returned only in 1991 with the arrival of a community of nuns which strives to harmoniously combine a religious life of prayer with housekeeping and farm work. The nuns run a painting workshop and provide guided tours of the monastery for visitors. (Voroneț, Romania)