Suruceni Monastery

St. George's Convent – a spiritual treasure of Moldova

If you're planning a trip to Moldova and want to see not only beautiful landscapes but also explore the country's spiritual heritage, be sure to include the St. George Convent in Suruceni on your itinerary . It's located just 25 km from Chisinau , on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Suruceni in the Ialoveni district.

The monastery was founded in 1785 on the initiative of the boyar Kasian Suruceanu and under the guidance of the Montenegrin monk Joseph. Initially, a small hermitage and a wooden church were built here. Between 1825 and 1832 , a stone church dedicated to St. George was built on the site of the wooden church, and in 1860 , a church dedicated to St. Nicholas with an underground crypt was built. It was here that Bishop Dionysius (Erhan) of Akkerman and Izmail , who headed the monastery from 1908 to 1934, was buried .

Today, St. George's Monastery is open to tourists and pilgrims . Here you can admire ancient architectural elements, stroll through the well-kept grounds, and enjoy the green gardens and tranquil atmosphere of the monastery. This place is ideal for photos and family walks, as well as for spiritual relaxation and meditation in nature.

Why you should visit Suruceni Monastery:

Historical value - one of the oldest women's monasteries in Moldova with more than 230 years of history.
Beautiful nature - surrounded by gardens, fields and green meadows.
Easy access – just 25 km from Chisinau, by car or minibus from the capital’s central bus station.
Spiritual heritage - the monastery is known for its ancient churches, burial vault and rich history of spiritual life.

How to get there:

By car – the road is convenient and picturesque, it takes about 30–40 minutes from Chisinau.
By minibus - from the central bus station of Chisinau, direction "Surucheni".
Along the way , you can stop at other monasteries: Capriana, Hincu, Saharna.

The St. George Convent in Suruceni is a place where history, faith, and nature merge. Once you visit, you'll want to return again and again, savoring the tranquility and beauty of the Moldovan landscape.

In 1959, the monastery was closed, most of the monks found refuge in the Noi Neamț Monastery, and the Suruceni monastery complex was converted into a drug treatment center. The winter church was converted into a warehouse, and the summer church of St. Nicholas became a club. The crypt was converted into a woodshed, and the cemetery was desecrated. Due to this barbaric treatment, the winter church was left in a pitiful state; it rotted, and in the early 2000s, it was dismantled down to its foundations.

In 1992, the holy monastery was restored as a convent. Today, the monastery complex has been fully restored. At the very entrance to the monastery grounds stands the Queen Mary Theological Seminary for Women, an educational institution that trains future elementary school religion teachers, psalm-readers, and choir directors.

The Suruceni Monastery Church is unique in Moldova. It is faced with Armenian pink tuff, lending it a distinctive elegance and originality. The St. George Monastery houses particles of the relics of St. Antipas of Calapodesti, donated to the monastery in 1999 by the Valaam Monastery (Russia). Two famous icons are also housed here: the Savior Blessing with the Gospel in His Hand and the Mother of God with Child, "of Suruceni."