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The Church of „Saint Nicholas” and „The Saint Third” of Grăjdeni Monastery, Grăjdeni Village, Fruntişeni Commune, Vaslui County ( code LMI 2004:VS-II-m-B-06802)
Built in 1862 by Bishop Anania of the Bishopric of Huşi, on the placement of the old church of the hermitage bearing the titular Saint Nicholas. According to the tradition, the first church of the hermitage was built in the 16th century during the reign of Petru Rareş (1527-1538, 1541-1546), on the lordly domain of Bârlad fair. According to the documentations, the hermitage was founded by the great mandarin Cârstea Ghenovici and the Roşca family from Bârlad, who lived even from the beginning of the 17th century. In 1689, when the land was “more like a waste land”, the descendants of the founders, Vasile Costache – great mandarin, Ştefan Cerchez - great yeoman, Costache – man of the Lord, already donated it to the Vatoped Monastery from the Thos Mountain. It then became a branch of the Golia Monastery from Iaşi. After the secularization of the donated monastery assets from 1863, the hermitage was dissolved. In 1930, it was reestablished with the efforts of the Bishop of Huşi, Iacov Antonovici, being declared monastery. Dissolved again in 1959, the monastery was reopened in 1990 receiving the saint bearing of “the Saint Third”. Until its reopening, the church functioned as a branch of Grăjdeni Parish. During 1987-1997, the church was redecorated, having the enclosure wall built, a religious inscription, cells, today offering facilities for food and accommodation.
Built in stone and brick, it is a three-apse church, with semicircular apse of the altar and belfry tower on the threshold. The interior is covered with semi-cylindrical vaults on the main beam. On the exterior, the diaconicon and proskomede are marked on side apses. The windows have openings in arch in plain centre on the superior side. The nave shelters the wonder maker reign icon “The Mother of God with the Baby”, dated from the 19th century, oil on wood with silver frame.
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