Nicula Monastery

At Nicula, in the commune of Fizeșu Gherlii in Cluj county, the monastery is known for the icon of the Mother of God painted in 1681 by the priest Luca from Iclod. The Nicula tradition of icons painted on glass grew up around this place of pilgrimage; this tradition later spread to other centers in Transylvania. The monastery’s collections preserve icons and old religious books.

The grounds contain the masonry church and a wooden church brought from the village of Năsal after the 1973 fire that destroyed the old wooden church. Another well-known feature is the limewood iconostasis carved by Samuil Keresteșiu in 1938, with a design resembling the rays of the sun. The buildings and collections illustrate the connection between pilgrimage, painting and woodcraft. Check access to the interiors and collections with the monastery, especially on feast days, when pilgrims are numerous.

The wooden church on the grounds of Nicula Monastery. Archive photo (2012): Joergsam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized. Adapted photo retains same license.