Schitul Bucium

The foundation of the Bucium monastery is related to the foundation of the Romanian hermitage "Prodromul" in the Holy Mount Athos in the 19th century. In 1853, Hieroschimonks Nifon and Nectarie founded a small hermitage in Bucium with an order similar to that of the Holy Mountain, with spiritual and philanthropic aims to help the Romanian monks of Athos.

The hermitage in Bucium was made possible thanks to the donation of 3,000 yellow coins and 4.1 hectares of land from Grigore Alexandru Ghica Al II. The first church, consecrated in 1871, was in a quadrangular building without a spire, similar to a chapel. The hermitage, known until 1918 as "Metoc" or "Bucium Mansion", became a center of spirituality and spiritual peace, being a resting place for the metropolitans of Moldova. After 1942, the hermitage developed considerably through the purchase of 22 hectares from Princess Ioana Rosetti Roznovanu, including buildings such as the "Roznovanu Palace" and the "Guest House".

Between 1950 and 1977, under Metropolitans Sebastian Rusan and Iustin Moisescu and Abbot Hrisostom Apostolache, the hermitage church was expanded and decorated with paintings by Vasile Pascu, in the Byzantine style, being re-consecrated in 1967. The hermitage was elevated to the status of a monastery in 1993, with the blessing of Patriarch Daniel, then Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina, and by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Today, the Bucium monastic complex includes: the church, the "St. Antipa de la Calapodesti" (metropolitan residence), the dining house with the Byzantine painting workshop "St. Ioan Damaschin", the monks' cells, the abbot's house, "Casa Roznovanu II" (the monks' cells), the wine warehouse and the carpentry workshop, the latter being coordinated by the Iasi Diocesan Center of the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Bucovina.