Stavropoleos Church

Beginning of the 18th century, the Greek Monk, Ioanikie Stratnikeas of the Goura Monastery in the Greek Macedonia, starts a journey to collect funds for Greek churches. We need to consider, that many Valahian (and Moldovan) churches and monasteries of the time were dedicated to Greek monasteries (being also of Orthodox faith), including important pieces of land and properties in the country.

While in Valahia, between 1722 and 1724, he builds an inn, the Stavropoleos Inn, and next to it, a chapel, that had to become a church in 1724. Two years later, Stratnikeas becomes Mitropolite of Stavropoleos.

The church became famous because of its valuable carvings in stone and in wood, which must be seen to be believed. Small and highly decorated with its carvings, it makes a good impression on each traveller’s eyes – it will be one of the buildings of Bucharest you will never forget. And that is quite understandable. This church was one of the richest ones in whole of Valahia, a fact that it does not forget to show.

1733, Ioanikie dedicates the church, the inn and the house to the Goura Monastery in Greece. Less than ten years on, he dies and is being burried in the church.

2005 finds the church under renovation works, that hopefully will not alter its outlook that made it famous.