TREBUJENI, MOLDOVA: OLD ORHEI (ORHEIUL VECHI)

Published on by jacquelinemhadel

Old Orhei is an ancient city with traces of many different civilizations. It’s an expansive valley with a river (Răut River) running through it. After numerous archaeological digs, there’s evidence of life from the Stone (Paleolithic), Copper, and Iron Ages. It is famous for its cave monasteries.

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The Orheiul Vechi Monastery Complex is carved into a massive limestone cliff in this wild, rocky, remote spot. The Cave Monastery (Manastire in Pestera), is inside a cliff overlooking the Raut River. It was dug by Orthodox monks in the 13th century. It remained inhabited until the 18th century, and in 1996 a handful of monks returned and began restoring it.

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View from inside the cave monastery looking out into the vast open valley.

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Contemplation cells in the cave monastery 

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9jul17. Trebujeni, Orhei, Moldova.

 

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