Post-Byzantine Art
Romania, Voronet Monastery

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Voronet Monastery (left) was built by Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) in 1488 in less than five months, in order to fulfill a promise to Daniil the Hermit.  The hermit had predicted that if Stephen went to war against the Turks, he would win.  He was right, since the Turks were defeated at the banks of the River Danube. Above the entry door to the church is portrayed the Hermit Daniil, who became the first abbey of the monastery, and who is also buried in the church. 

• Romania 1995. Voronet Monastery. 
• Romania 1969.  A very nice maximum card, showing King Stephen the Great, and the below stamp "The Three Kings".  The cancellation shows the king's head.  Fresco from the church.
• Romania 1970. Grigore Rosca, the Metropolit who was the innovator of the monastery.

The frescoes of Voronet only appeared from 1547, when the Metropolit Grigore Rosca started painting the religious messages to the illiterate, but faithful people of the valley. It is from this time the colour "Voronet-Blue" is inscribed in Art History, and Voronet Monastery is rightfully called the "Oriental Sistine Chapel".  These frescoes, billboards from the late medieval world, are essentially Byzantine in style, but infused with the vitality of the local folk art and mythology.  Very little is known about the artists, but their skills were such that the paintings are still fresh after 450 years' of exposure.  

• Romania 1969.  "The Three Kings".
• Romania 1970.  "St. Anthony".
• Romania 1969.  "The Holy Child in Manger". 

• Romania 1971.  Voronet Monastery. Souvenir Sheet. Fresco: "The Byzantine Court".
• Romania 1970.  Two fragments of the fresco "Judgment Day", from the western wall of the church.

• Romania 1971.  "The Trial".
• Romania 1971.  "The Death of a Martyr".
• Romania 1969.  "Pastoral Scene". 

Sources and links: 

• Microsoft Encarta 2002. 

• All information after "Romania - The Rough Guide" (1999). 

• World Cultural Heritage Sites on Stamps.

• Another page about the Painted Churches of Moldavia (Southern Bucovina) 

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