Saharna Monastery
«Pearl of Bessarabian monasteries» — Holy Trinity Monastery in Saharna (1776), Saint Macarius's relics + Mother of God's footprint in the rock.
Pilgrimage to Macarius's relics + canyon path with waterfall + Mother of God's footprint in rock.
An absolute must — home to the country's only relics of St. Macarie and, on the Grimidon rock, a footprint attributed to the Mother of God, set in a canyon landscape with waterfalls.
Saharna Monastery (110km north of Chișinău, right bank of the Nistru in Rezina district) is one of Moldova's oldest monastic settlements and the «pearl of Bessarabian monasteries». The complex consists of: the rock-cut monastery (Annunciation patronage, dating uncertain, very old) + the surface Holy Trinity monastery (founded 1776 by monk Vartolomeu Ciungu with permission from owner Enache Hrisoverghi, who gave him 120 desyatins of land). Two unique relics in Moldova: Saint Cuvios Macarius's relics and, on one of the complex's rocks, the footprint left according to legend by the Mother of God. The village of Saharna is first attested in 1495, under Stephen the Great. Today it is the country's main religious pilgrimage centre.
- «Pearl of Bessarabian monasteries»
- unique relics of Saint Macarius
- Mother of God's footprint legend
- rock-cut + surface complex
- founded 1776 by Vartolomeu Ciungu
- major Moldovan pilgrimage centre
- canyon with monastery in valley
- Saharna waterfall
- Mother of God's footprint in rock
- white church against Nistru backdrop
- pilgrims with candles
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“Saharna Monastery is a beautiful and peaceful place, surrounded by nature and history. The main church and the cave chapels carved into the cliffs give it a unique atmosphere. You can really feel the spiritual vibe of the area. The walk around the monastery is calm, but if you go further toward the cave and the holy spring, be ready for some hiking. The path can be a bit steep…”
“A fantastic place to visit, tucked away in a valley between two hills. A variety of different buildings, with beautifully decorated cupolas. Make sure to take a walk through the woods at the back”
“I traveled 150 km by bus to visit this monastery. The journey included a scenic return walk of nearly four hours through the mountains. Despite the long trip, the experience was rewarding and the serene surroundings made it worthwhile. # Moldova”
- ~2.5h from Chișinău
- stepped path to waterfall
- crowded on Orthodox holidays