Ghighiu Monastery, Prahova

At the miracle-working icon

parking

Where is it, when to visit, how much does it cost?

Ghighiu Monastery is located on the outskirts of Ghighiu village, Prahova county, 10 km from Ploiești and 60 km from Bucharest. The monastery is 15 minutes from Ploiești. It is located right on the eastern ring road of Ploiești, on DN1A. The postcode is 107056. Free parking is available in a dedicated parking space on both sides of the road. Ghighiu Monastery can be visited daily between 7-21. Admission is free.

Ghighiu Monastery

About Ghighiu Monastery

Ghighiu Monastery belongs to the Orthodox rite.

  • 1471 - the name Ghigheu is documented in a hrisov of the voivode Radu the Handsome, in the 15th century and refers to the village of the same name
  • 1601 - the first documentary attestation of Ghighiu monastery in a document written by the logophat Bunea, who is also the founder of the monastery

1. Large Church and Small Church

Great Church is dedicated Spring of Healing. In 1858, the Most Reverend Archimandrite Eftimie began the construction of the large church in the place of the existing one, which had become overcrowded. The work was continued and completed by Archpriest Archimandrite Antony. The architectural style is neoclassical. The church occupies 416 square meters, with a length of 31 meters, a width of 11 meters and a maximum height of 21 meters. It has a closed porch, pronaos, nave and altar. The catapeteasma is carved in lime wood, polished with gold and painted by the famous Gheorghe Tattarescu.

In the cemetery of Ghighiu Monastery there is Small Church. It was built in the 19th century.

Great Church

Great Church

entrance to the Great Church

Ghighiu Monastery

2. The Miraculous Icon

Ghighiu Monastery is famous for The Miraculous Icon in the Great Church. The icon dates from the 16th century and depicts Syriac Mother of God. On weekends and holidays, the faithful line up in long queues to pray at the icon. There are actually 2 identical icons, placed back to back, the original one facing the altar. The icon of Our Lady of Syriac was brought to Ghighiu Monastery in 1958.

Syriac Mother of God

The miracle-working icon

dome

catapeteasma

in the big church

3. Spring of Healing

The monk Agapie went to rest with 4 disciples. They were awakened by the murmur of a spring. So they decided to build a hermitage on the site of today's monastery. The spring water is healing. This is the legend of the spring.

To get to the spring, follow the signs past the small church and the mini zoo. The end of the landscaped walkway is covered by a hedge-covered canopy flanked by benches. Next to the spring house are a small fish pond, gazebos and a playground.

covered walkway

lake

fish in the lake

at the Source of Healing

playground

Spring of Healing

Spring of Healing

4. Monastery Courtyard, Religious Art Collection and Church Shop

The courtyard of Ghighiu Monastery is well kept and landscaped. An asphalted alley surrounds the large church and branches off to the nuns' chapels, to the candlestick, to the gazebo with the small shrine, to the cemetery and to the religious art collection and the spring.

Religious art collection was organized in 1964 by the nun Lavrentia Zainea.

On the way out of the monastery courtyard you can stop at church shop located on the left side.

aghiasmarul

kiliilies

rose

religious art collection

Jesus and the Samaritan woman

queue in the yard

5. Mini zoo

Between the cemetery and the road to the spring is a mini zoo with birds. We see peacocks, pheasants, pigeons, chickens and roosters.

zoo

peacock

rooster

mini zoo

Conclusion

Ghighiu Monastery is a popular tourist destination mainly due to its belief in the miracle-working icon and the healing spring water. Independent of faith, the monastery is also an interesting tourist attraction as a whole. Read more on the monastery website https://www.manastireaghighiu.ro/.

A short video presentation of Ghighiu Monastery is available here.

If you got here, visit also city of Ploiești with its unique clock and oil museums.

All the best!

 

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