Description of the attraction
The Curchi Monastery is one of the main attractions of Moldova, an architectural monument of the 17th century. The monastery was erected on picturesque hills covered with forest and occupies two terraces - on the top there is the monastery itself, outbuildings, on the bottom there is a stone pool-pond. The architectural ensemble includes two churches, nine different buildings, including cells for monks, a large garden and a stone pool.
There are several legends about the founding of the monastery. According to one of them, the founder of the monastery community is Iordake Kurj, a resident of the nearby village of Morozeni. In 1773 he took monastic vows under the name John and erected a wooden church on his own land in honor of St. Great Martyr Dmitry in the neo-Byzantine style. Subsequently, Iordake Kurj became the first abbot of the monastery, a great contribution to the development of which was also made by his closest relatives.
At that time, the monastery complex was surrounded by a high stone wall with towers at the corners. In 1808-1810, a stone church of the Nativity of the Virgin with a high bell tower in the classicism style with baroque elements was erected on its territory. In 1868, the skete was transformed into a monastery, this year is considered the official date of the foundation of the temple. In 1884, a winter stone church was built next to the abbot's chambers. It was also planned to build a third Byzantine-style temple, but the church was never completed.
In 1958, the Kurki Monastery was closed, its premises were given for the needs of a narcological and psychological hospital, which was located here until 2002. During all this time, the temple has never been repaired, as a result of which all buildings are thoroughly dilapidated, the most beautiful interior paintings disappeared without a trace.
In the early 2000s, the UN patronage was established over the monastery; restoration work began with the funds of this organization, which continues to this day.
