Rătești Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Buzău County, Romania
Rătești Monastery is an Orthodox monastery on the left bank of the Buzău River, featuring a church built in neoclassical style combined with local ecclesiastical design. The original complex sat on sloped terrain, but a 2014 landslide forced the construction of a replacement structure on higher ground across the road.
The monastery was founded in 1634 through a donation deed by boyar Dragomir and initially housed monks. By 1760 it had transitioned to a nuns' community, marking a significant shift in its religious function.
The nuns' community developed a scholarly tradition centered on religious manuscripts and spiritual study. This practice shaped how the monastery served as a center of learning and faith for the surrounding region.
The current monastery is significantly smaller than the original and sits across the road on more stable ground. Visitors can explore both locations to understand how geography and natural events shaped the community's relocation.
The bell tower was built in 1854, but after an earthquake in 1894 it was shortened to 18 meters to improve stability. This restoration shows how the community adapted structures to survive seismic activity.
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