Prislop Monastery

Prislop Monastery – A Sanctuary of Spirituality and History in the Heart of Hațeg

History and Founders

Prislop Monastery, located near the village of Silvașu de Sus in Hunedoara County, is one of the oldest monastic settlements in Transylvania. Though its origins remain shrouded in mystery, it is believed to have been founded by Romanian nobles from Ciula during the Middle Ages. The first indirect documentary mention dates back to 1360, but the current church, a historic monument (code HD-II-m-A-03447), was built in the 16th century. In 1564, Princess Zamfira, the daughter of Prince Moise Vodă of Wallachia, reconstructed the monastery "from its foundations," saving it from ruin. As a woman, Zamfira acted upon a preexisting monastery, endowing it with religious artifacts and relics, of which only an icon has survived. Her fragmented tombstone is preserved within the monastery grounds today.

In the 17th century, Saint Ioan of Prislop, a hermit who carved his cell into a nearby cave, lived here, turning the site into a place of pilgrimage. During this period, the monastery also hosted a theological school for young men training to become priests. In the 18th century, Prislop came under Greek-Catholic jurisdiction and received frescoes by the painter Simion of Pitești, of which only fragments remain.

Confessional Changes and Notable Figures

At the beginning of the 20th century, Greek-Catholic Bishop Demetriu Radu oversaw restoration works, and in 1911, hieromonk Leon Manu, a former abbot of the Russian monastery Maria-Pócs, revitalized the Basilian community. In 1948, following the ban on the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, the monastery was taken over by the Romanian Orthodox Church. Monk Arsenie Boca was transferred here and later became the spiritual guide of a community of nuns until 1959, when the communist regime dissolved the monastery. His grave, located in the monastery cemetery, is now a significant pilgrimage site.

Architecture and Access

The monastery church, built in the traditional Transylvanian style, retains elements of the original 16th-century structure, complemented by later additions. Inside, visitors can see the icon donated by Zamfira and fragments of the 18th-century frescoes. The cave of Saint Ioan of Prislop, carved into the nearby rock, is also accessible to pilgrims.

Today, Prislop Monastery functions as a convent and hosts the "Saint Ecaterina" Monastic Theological Seminary. Access is via National Road DN66 and the county road connecting Silvașu de Sus to Hațeg. Visiting hours and admission fees are available on-site.