Dervent Monastery

Near the village of Galița, Lipnița commune, Constanța county, the Dervent Monastery brings together churches, stone crosses and a spring linked to the local religious tradition. The crosses are revered by pilgrims, and stories about their appearance and powers belong to the beliefs held around the monastery. The courtyard also includes the fountain and the holy-water pavilion, the construction used for consecrating water.

The foundation stone of the old church was laid in 1936, and the consecration took place in 1942. The building was designed by the architect N. Săndulescu and has three altars, an element that distinguishes it from many churches in the area. The monastery was closed in 1959 and resumed its monastic life in 1990. The visit follows both the buildings and courtyard spaces, as well as the places of pilgrimage; in churches and around services, the rules of the monastic community are respected.

The fountain and the holy-water pavilion in the courtyard of the Dervent Monastery. Archive photo (2013): Razvan Socol / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 ro. Cropped and resized. Adapted photo retains same license.