Photos

The Suzana Monastery of nuns took refuge along the Teleajenului stream, some 40 km from Valenii de Munte, at the highest point of the foot of Bobul Mare. The waters of the Teleajenul, Stanca and Iepurasul come together at this monastery in the form of a cross and run off together as a single stream. From above, the settlement looks like a tiny village, a cluster of houses stuck together, as if they were afraid of flying away in a storm. The houses are attractive and well kept.

AT THE MONASTERY, EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE..."Leave us be, says an elderly nun, as we have no time for posing in magazines. We have a lot of work." She then disappears into the abbey to announce the arrival of some...guests. Out comes the Mother Superior, Singlitichia Marin, short and rosycheeked, "Please, do come into the living room and have a syrup drink." A homemade syrup made of caramelized sugar is brought in with glasses of water.
"Our monastery is not very well-off," says the Mother Superior (the name Singlitichia is Greek...). "We work hard, there are few nuns, only 50, and only about 12 of them are young."
Someone knocks on the door. A nun curtseys and kisses Mother Superior's hand. Snatches of words, choked by timidity: "Mother Superior...the bell...blessed."
The girls come to the monastery from places you cannot even imagine, from all over the country. They come from Sighetul Marmatiei, from Moldova. But they do not all stay here, some cannot get used to life in a monastery. First they must learn about order. The monastery has its own rules, its own system, and none can do as she pleases. And then these girls have to be taught some skill, to be useful, and they learn to weave carpets".

from here: http://www.ici.ro/romania/en/turism/m_suzana.html