The church is a converted cave and keeps an icon of the Virgin that tradition attributes to Saint Luke the Apostle, covered in silver in 1798.
About the place
Legend says three shepherds dreamed three nights in a row that an icon of the Virgin lay inside the rock, and found it in a grotto, where they made a place of prayer. The first reliable document dates from 1547, when the ruler Mircea Ciobanul granted Nămăiești village to a boyar on condition that, if he had no heirs, the estate would pass to the church in the rock. The church was enlarged by cutting further into the rock in 1843.
In 1916 German artillery hit the monastery, which was repaired after the war. It is considered the oldest convent in Wallachia and has a collection of church and folk art and of old Romanian books. The village is also home to the George Topîrceanu Memorial House, a branch of the Câmpulung Municipal Museum.
Good to know
- Dress modestly; the rock church is cool even in summer, so bring a warm layer.
- The DC19 local road branches off the DN73; the last stretch is narrow, so drive slowly.
- Combine the visit with the Mateiaș Mausoleum, 15 minutes away by car on the DN73.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.