Secu Monastery

The Orthodox Secu monastery was founded in Vânători-Neamț in 1602 on the site of a small hermitage from the mid-16th century. It is the oldest monastery in the region. Its architecture is dominated by the characteristic Moldavian style. The complex includes a church, two chapels and monastery buildings.

The church was built on a rectangular plan. It is surrounded by huge walls, reminiscent of a defensive fortress. It houses the precious icon of the Mother of God, donated to the monastery by the ruler Vasile Lupu in 1647. It was made in Cyprus and is therefore known as the "Cypriot icon of Secu".

The monastery houses a museum whose collections include mainly liturgical items and religious exhibits. They include, among others two 19th-century gilded arks, a 16th-century silver-plated cross, candlesticks and a set of liturgical vessels from the 15th century.