Dealu Mare Monastery

Dealu Mare Monastery is a Romanian Orthodox religious site located in the commune of Borăscu, Gorj County, Romania. The monastery's history is closely tied to the prominent figure Constantin Savoiu, a member of the ad hoc Divan who supported the Union in 1859 and later served as a senator. Savoiu also founded other churches and schools in the region.

History and Re-establishment

The monastery experienced a significant period of closure, ceasing operations in 1962 and falling into a deplorable state over the subsequent three decades. Its revival began on February 1, 1992, when the Holy Metropolitan Church of Oltenia re-established it, bringing nuns from the Sfânta Treime Monastery in Stramba-Jiu. This marked the commencement of substantial restoration and rebuilding efforts, which included consolidating the existing church structures and constructing new monastic cells. These works were completed in 2001, restoring the site as an active monastic community.

Architecture and Art

Initially, the church at Dealu Mare Monastery featured a Greek cross plan with three apses, a central altar, and a dome supported by the nave. The architectural genre and initial paintings are noted to be in the Italian classic style. Constantin Savoiu commissioned the interior decorations from the Transylvanian painter Nicolae Popescu, whom he had met in Vienna. Later initiatives involved painting the entire church in the Byzantine style and constructing new monastic cells, further enriching the monastery's artistic and architectural character.