Japca Monastery · Mănăstirea Japca
Japca Monastery — the ONLY MSSR monastery NEVER closed in the Soviet period, on cliff above the Nistru since 1693.
Service with continuity since 1693 + Nistru-cliff tour + visit with the monastery's nun-historian.
A must for religious history — the only monastery in Moldova that stayed open throughout the entire Soviet era, perched on a cliff above the Dniester.
Holy Ascension Monastery in Japca village (Florești district, 40km east of Florești, 45km south of Soroca, 4km below Camenca) is the only monastery in the Moldavian SSR that was NEVER closed during the Soviet period. In the 1960s, when the communist regime closed all monasteries in Moldova, Japca remained open — a unique case of spiritual continuity. On the bank of the Nistru, partially carved into the cliff, it has rock-cut origins. First documentary attestation: 1693. Reorganized from male to female monastery on 26 March 1916.
- ONLY MSSR monastery never Soviet-closed
- uninterrupted prayer since 1693
- rock-cut origins on Nistru cliff
- female monastery since 26 March 1916
- rare spiritual continuity
- combo with Soroca Fortress
- Nistru cliff with monastery above
- old icon from 1700s
- nuns' courtyard
- path to rock entrance
- church with old painting
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“Interesting monastery . From Rîbnița to Japca is not that far . To stay at the monastery for a few days you need to pay . The monastery is being re-decorated and some parts rebuilt . There's a mini artificial lake nearby that the nuns use to catch fish 🐟.”
“A beautiful and well maintained Orthodox monastery for nuns on the shore of the Nistru (Dnister) river, easily accessible from the Moldovan side. The origins of this Monastery go back to the 17th century, and you can take the Steep stairs up the hill to where the first Monk established a cave dwelling. It was closed when we got there at late afternoon but if you visit early you…”
“Nature in its wilderness and pureness, in the very proximity of the God and Saint Angels, a must-see place.”
- ~3h from Chișinău
- long rural road for last km
- modest dress