In mid-August 2022, within the premises of the Monastery dedicated to the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" in Itcani, Suceava, traces of the past were strongly felt, traces that keep alive the memory of our history since ancient times.
This place houses testimonies that reflect the faith and intentions of those who, more than six hundred years ago, laid the foundations of this monastery. They wanted it to be a place of prayer near the See of Suceava, alongside the Church of Saint George of Mirauti - the first metropolitan cathedral of Moldova. The monastery was conceived as a space for prayer, listening, spiritual asceticism and the manifestation of love for God.
On the day of the patron saint, the voice of the walls of this church was heard more loudly than ever in Bucovina. This monastery, which had been abolished by an Imperial Ordinance of June 19, 1783 issued by Emperor Joseph II, was then brought back to the attention of the faithful. The monastery had been closed, like all the others in the area, and placed under imperial authority. Subsequently, the church became a parish and functioned as such until October 21, 2021. On that day, His Eminence Father Calinic, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți, decided during a meeting of the Diocesan Council to re-establish the Monastery of the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary - Itcani". The decision was then confirmed by unanimous vote by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolia of Moldova and Bukovina on December 15, 2021, and on December 21, 2021, the Most Reverend Father Protos. Justinian Săvescu was appointed abbot.
Thus, on a day of historical significance, a new page was added to the spiritual history of Bukovina, through the reopening of one of the 21 monasteries closed by the Habsburg authorities, one of the oldest Moldavian monastic foundations, after the Bogdana Monastery in Rădăuți.
In his speech on the occasion of the reopening, His Eminence Father Calinic clearly stated that each re-established monastery means an increase in prayer to God. This statement emphasizes how necessary prayer is in our days and how important it is to rediscover our identity as Romanian Orthodox Christians in the authentic sense.
After 1991, important restoration and conservation works were carried out on the site, and in 1996 these efforts were recognized and appreciated by the Romanian Association of Construction Contractors (ARACO) as the most successful interventions of this type.
However, there are still many aspects that require urgent attention in order to preserve this valuable historical monument that is under the protection of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți.
The abbot, Protos. Justinian Săvescu, declared from the beginning of his mission that he would not lead the monastic community alone, but would be supported by his brothers in service and in all the activities carried out within the monastery.
The Most Reverend Father Justinian Săvescu took over, in a symbolic sense, the community of believers from the Itcani neighborhood of Suceava, people who will be able to find peace of mind in this monastery during religious services.
The most important task of an abbot is to work “on the church in the soul of the people”, which is not an easy mission at all. However, there is confidence that the protoss father. Justinian Săvescu, thanks to his training and experience accumulated over the years, will succeed in transforming this monastery into a model urban monastery, especially after the completion of the interior restoration works.
On the occasion of the first patron saint celebrated after the reopening, the abbot father is called, like the Prophet David, not to allow himself to rest until he manages to see how in every believer who steps onto the threshold of this historic church the dwelling place of God in the heart is born and develops, beautified and spiritually elevated.
The book of monastic life, in which numerous pages have been written over time in this monastery, has been reopened. Those who had the happiness to participate in this historic moment are now called to also contribute to writing new pages of Orthodox history, faith, culture, and confession.
Sursa: www.arhiepiscopiasucevei.ro
