HINDU MONASTERY

This monastery is situated on the banks of the Cogâlnic, surrounded by rolling hills, at the foot of the imposing Codri forest. It was founded in 1678 by Mihalcea Hâncu and dedicated to Saint Parascève. The monastery was frequently plundered by the Tatars. Abbot Varlaam of the monastery at Varzareşti revived monastic life and the hermitage. He had a summer church built, first in wood and later in stone, which was completed in 1835. A winter church was built in 1841. Next to the stone church were built twelve cells for brothers and sisters, three porches and six separate houses with four cells each. Life was organized around the bakery, the barns, the distillery, the carpentry workshop, the hardware store, etc. Hîncu became one of the most important and active monasteries in Moldavia, with five fountains and an irrigation system for the land, surrounded by springs. In 1949 the monastery was closed down by the Soviet authorities and transformed into a treatment centre for people with lung diseases, a rest centre and a depot. The monastery was reopened in 1992 and restoration work began. The iconostasis and the fresco in the dome are magnificent. Today, the monastery houses an orphanage. It is possible to stay a night or two at the monastery for those who want to soak up the place. A local guide is available on site. The decor is quite dreamlike, with its multicoloured flowers, ponds with swans, bird songs and healing springs.