Rudi Monastery, a church from 1777 in a gorge near Soroca

Mănăstirea Rudi is a remote convent near the village of Rudi in Soroca district, in a wooded gorge by the right bank of the Dniester. The Holy Trinity Church was built between 1770 and 1777 in the style of medieval Moldavian churches, a rarity in Bessarabia. The monastery is considered one of the oldest between the Prut and the Dniester.

What you see

Rudi lies in the far north of Moldova, in a valley of old forests and steep limestone walls. The main building is the Holy Trinity Church (Sfânta Treime), built between 1770 and 1777. According to the national tourism portal, it is special in Bessarabia because it preserves the architectural features of Moldavian churches from the time of Ștefan cel Mare. That makes it one of the few buildings in the region that still show the architecture of the medieval principality, rather than the Russian style that set the tone after 1812.

The buildings of the women's community surround the church. The monastery is also called Rudi-Arionești, after the nearby village and the gorge that descends to the river.

History

The monastery was founded in the Principality of Moldavia, and construction of the church was completed in 1777. Moldova.travel counts it among the oldest monasteries between the Prut and the Dniester and points out that the community has kept a traditional way of life. In older sources it also appears as Rughi. Today it is a working convent, which the tourism portal describes as one of the most secluded and peaceful convents in the country.

The surroundings also hold scientific heritage: near Rudi lies the Moldovan survey point of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a 19th-century chain of survey points running from Norway to the Black Sea that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Tips for your visit

Rudi is a long way from Chișinău, about 195 kilometres by road. Combine it with Soroca, some 45 kilometres away, and stay overnight in the area. The Rudi-Arionești gorge is good for a walk down to the Dniester; the paths are partly unpaved and steep, so sturdy shoes are advisable.

This is a quiet community of nuns. Ideally come outside service times, dress modestly and ask permission before taking photographs inside. The area also has wineries and manor houses that the tourism portal lists as nearby sights.