Matei Basarab, ruler of Wallachia (1632-1654), is the founder of the Holy Monastery of Arnota near Costești. Legend has it that the Wallachian ruler built this church after making a promise to God, who saved his life here, where he hid and escaped from the Turks who were following him in order to catch and send him to the Sultan at Constantinople.
The church dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel was built between 1633 and 1636. Arnota Monastery was mentioned for the first time in a document from July 11, 1636, when Matei Basarab gave the village of Bogdăneşti as a gift to the monastery. The archaeological research of 1974 revealed that the brick and stone church was erected on the site of an older one, from the 16th century, built of wood by his father. Matei Basarab wanted to make Arnota the necropolis of his family. The earthly remains of his father, Danciu, were buried in 1948 in the church's narthex. Matei Basarab died on April 9, 1654 and was buried initially in the Royal Church of Târgovişte. In 1658, the ruler Mihnea III brought Matei Basarab's remains to Arnota and buried them in the church's narthex.
The structures that make up the monastery complex today date from different historical periods. By the mid-nineteenth century, the buildings surrounding the church were in ruins. In 1852-1856, the ruler Barbu Stirbey ordered their demolition and restoration. The architect was the Swiss Johann Schlatter.
Nowadays only the building on the south side of the enclosure is preserved. The one on the western side has functioned since its first year of existence as a political prison. Badly damaged, it was demolished in the second half of the 20th century and replaced in 2001 with a new building, comprising the monastic cells. Extensive restoration work was carried out between 1934 and 1936, at the initiative of the priest Dumitru Cristescu. Another important restoration of Arnota was undertaken between 2003 and 2007, at the initiative of His Holiness Gherasim, Archbishop of Râmnic. The chapel dedicated to Saint Elijah the Prophet was built on the northern side, next to the cells. As of 1999, Arnota became a monastery of nuns.
