Neamtu, Abbey of
NEAMTU, ABBEY OF
Fourteenth-century Romanian monastery, outside the town of Targu Neamt, northeast Romania, in Moldavia. Targu Neamt was once an important fortress, built in 1210. Later, Neamtu Abbey was founded at the site of a hermitage there. The monastery became one of the largest, richest, and most famous monastic foundations in romania. During its golden age it had two churches, ten towers, and more than 600 monks. It was enlarged and enriched by Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia (1457–1503) and became a center for pilgrims and tourists.
Bibliography: i. crǍciuna[symbol omitted], "The Monastery of Neamt, the Center of Monasticism in Moldavia," Mitropolia Moldovei [symbol omitted]i Sucevei, 38 (1962) 343–353, in Romanian. s. porcescu, "Cultural Activity of Neamt in the 15th Century, ibid. 477–506, in Romanian.
[j. papin]