Curchi monastery is a monk monastery from Moldova, one of the most important

architectural monuments of Basarabia. It is located in Forest Orhei near the village

Curchi, Orhei. As architectural ensemble was founded in XVIII - XIX. It is
composed of five churches, two buildings with cells, the abbot, several auxiliary
rooms, orchard, a hermitage with xenodochium Monastery located at 500 m and a
stone basin.

Curchi monastery, dedicated to "Naterea Domnului", is located southwest from
Orhei, 14 km from the city. Situated in the valley Vatici, surrounded by a rich
natural environment, the monastery has a religious and cultural past of two
centuries. This monastery is considered to be the most beautiful and most famous
monastery in Bessarabia.

Until 2003, many tourists visiting the monastery knew that there was a psychiatric
hospital. Today, at Curchi monastery, which is in restoration, more and more
tourists are comming. Curchi monastery is included in wine tourist route Orhei.
Chronologicaly, the history of the monastery started in 1773-1775, being at the
XIX century one of the richest, most beautiful and largest monasteries in Moldova.
The monastery had six churches: wooden church of St. Demetrius, built in 1775
by Ioan Curchi and demolished after 1820; the stone church "Naterea Domnului",
founded in 1810; winter church of St. Demetrius, built in 1844; summer church
Naterea Domnului raised in 1872, considered the head of the monastery
building, reopened and consecrated on September 21 1993; church cemetery,
dedicated to "All Saints winter church of St. Nicholas, built in the years 1936-1939
(unfinished). Monastic life was stopped here in 1958, when the monastery was
closed. Beginning with 2002 Curchi monastic complex was passed to the
Orthodox Church of Moldova.

Monastery's main church, the cathedral dedicated to the Naterea Domnului,
was built between 1862-1872, after an Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli
project. Builted in baroque stile, the cathedral is the highest in Moldova central
dome having 57 m, twin with the church of St. Andrew the First Called " from
Kiev. During the Second World War there was a fire, which resulted in the
complete combustion of the painting inside and gold gilded iconostasis.

After a strong bombardment of the four belfry of the cathedral remained only two.
Cathedral paintings were made in 1943. The next renovation works were carried
out only in 1993. On February 15, 2006, Teleradio-Moldova organized the project
"Curchi Monastery: From ruins to elevation. It was an act of awareness, an
encouragement for Christians to contribute financially to revive this important
monument of culture and spirituality.