Material received courtesy of counselor Liliana Barbulescu
- Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian Government
The project aims at setting up several tourist routes where whomever is interested can discover the values of the Russian Lippovan community from Romania.
1. What are the most important historical, religious, architectural and cultural sites for the Russian Lipovan community in your region?
The historical and religious importance of Manolea town comes from the fact that there are two monasteries of the Old Rite Orthodox Church:
-The first one, a monk monastery, is dedicated to the HOLLY BISHOP NECULAI, where Feodor Efimov Melnicov, one of the Old-Rite Church apologists, is buried.
-The second one, a nun monastic church, is dedicated to BUHURODITA TIHVINSKAIA.
These two monasteries are often visited by ethnic Russian Lipovans from across the country, but unfortunately they are not known to the Russian-speaking Diaspora.
Also an objective of major importance for our countrymen is the new village church, with Staroveri style paintings, which was rebuilt due to a devastating fire, after the Second World War.
Unfortunately these objectives are only part of the local heritage
2. What other relevant sites for your community’s culture and traditions can be visited in your town - memorial houses, libraries, etnographic or village museums, county museums including sections for local minorities, statues, monuments, cemeteries?
By the nature of its location, unfortunately Manolea Township
doesn’t have any relevant cultural objectives.
3. What interesting geographical places are located close to the objectives listed above?
Because this is a Sub-Carpathian area, Manolea village is situated within the Moldova hills midway between the cities of Pascani and Falticeni.
Platonita creek, which springs from under Purdila hill where the two monastic churches are also located, crosses the village and then quietly flows along the county road that connects Probota monastery, founded by Moldavian Prince Petru Rares, with the European Roman-Suceava road, on its way to the Siret and Somuz rivers.
Along this partly modernized path we notice wooded hills with the magnificent "Ursoi" peak, offering an outstandingly beautiful vista to those who visit the area both in summer and winter.