Located in central Bucharest, Romania, Stavropoleos Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery for nuns dedicated to St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Originally built in 1724 in the Brâncovenesc style by a Greek monk named Ioannikios Stratonikeas, this serene retreat takes its name from Greek meaning "The city of the Cross." Though earthquakes caused its original dome to fall and its surrounding inn was demolished in the late 19th century, you can still admire the restored early 20th-century dome paintings inside the original church.
Alongside the historic church, you will see an early 20th-century building designed by architect Ion Mincu. Inside this building, you can view a collection of early 18th-century icons, sacerdotal clothes, ecclesiastical objects, and surviving wall paintings rescued from churches destroyed during the communist regime. Today, the active monastic community is dedicated to worship, renovating old books, and preserving rare neo-Byzantine music.
Visiting gives you a chance to appreciate remarkable architecture and hear the church choir perform single-voice chants sustained by an acoustic accompaniment sound called an ison. You can also explore an extraordinary virtual library project that digitizes over 8,000 historic theological, art, and music texts.
What to see at Stavropoleos Monastery
- 1724 Eastern Orthodox church constructed in the iconic Brâncovenesc architectural style
- Restored early 20th-century dome paintings and rescued wall paintings from churches demolished under communism
- Collection of early 18th-century icons, historic sacerdotal clothes, and religious objects
- Ion Mincu-designed building housing Romania's largest collection of Byzantine music books
- Neo-Byzantine musical performances by the Stavropoleos Byzantine Choir featuring rare single-voice chants
Visiting tips
Explore the monastery's virtual library project online to view their digitized collection of over 8,000 historic texts on theology, Byzantine music, and Romanian history.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: During church offices
How to get there & what’s nearby
Stavropoleos Monastery is easy to reach on Bucharest’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Peasant Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Bucharest travel guide.
See the full Bucharest travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.