# Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Bukovina](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/bucovina) › [Suceava County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/suceava) › [Mănăstioara](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/manastioara)

> A small 18th-century wooden church in the cemetery of an isolated hillside village, tied to the tradition that Stephen the Great built it from the oak that hid him.

**At a glance:** Monasteries and churches in Mănăstioara, Suceava County. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 14 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** No official visiting schedule was found. The church is rarely used for services and the interior may be locked; the Mănăstioara-Udești skete (under St John the New Monastery in Suceava) looks after the site, so ask there before making the trip.
- **Visit duration:** ½ – 1 hours — estimate, including the climb on the path
- **With kids:** Yes — forest path
- **Parking:** Yes, free — at the roadside in the village
- **Best season:** May – October — easier in dry weather
- **Address:** in the village cemetery of Mănăstioara, on the hill, at the end of a forest path, Mănăstioara, Suceava County
- **Coordinates:** 47.5561, 26.3897
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_de_lemn_din_M%C4%83n%C4%83stioara_(Ude%C8%99ti)
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18541767
- **Categories:** [Monasteries and churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastiri-si-biserici)

## About Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara

Mănăstioara is a small village in Udești commune, and its wooden church, also known as the Mănăstioara Skete, stands on a hill at the edge of the settlement, in the village cemetery. Its dedication is the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, and it is a historic monument (LMI code SV-II-m-B-05567). Specialists date it to the 18th century; an antimension of 1762 and an icon of the Saviour of 1775–1776 are among the oldest firm landmarks.

Local tradition says that Stephen the Great, after his father was killed, hid in the hollow of an oak in the forest here and later built the church from the tree's wood. No historical source confirms the legend, but it has made the place known. The church was extended westwards in 1848, when the porch and bell tower were added, and in the 20th century the walls were lined with boards, replaced in 1974.

The building is made of oak logs, with a cross-shaped plan, a five-sided sanctuary and a double eave, a feature common among wooden churches in the northern Carpathians. The walls are covered with vertical boards, and a small false turret rises above the sanctuary.

### What you can see

The church stands in the middle of the cemetery, surrounded by forest. In the yard is an old stone cross with a partly worn Cyrillic inscription. Nearby is the Mănăstioara-Udești monastic skete, re-founded in 2021, and according to the archdiocese restoration work on the little church is under way.

### Good to know

The village is small and remote, and the church is used rarely: in a 2016 report only a few services a year were held there, including on the Transfiguration (6 August), the skete's patronal feast. No visiting schedule was found; the interior may be locked.

## Don't miss

- The small wooden church with its double eave and bell tower, in the middle of the cemetery.
- The legend of the oak that supposedly hid Stephen the Great.
- The forest path that leads to the church from the edge of the village.
- The old stone cross in the yard, with a Cyrillic inscription.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** Mănăstioara is in Udești commune, about 15 km as the crow flies south-east of Suceava. The road runs through Udești to the village, and from there the church is reached on foot, climbing the hill on a forest path.

**Public transport:** no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option.

### Rules

This is an active place of worship: dress modestly and keep quiet. The cemetery around the church is in use, so graves should be respected. Before photographing inside, ask the person who opens it for permission.

## Details

- **Construction period:** 18th century
- **Dedication:** Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple
- **Denomination:** Orthodox

## Frequently asked questions about Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara

**How long does a visit to Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara take?**

A visit to Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara takes about ½ – 1 hours (estimate, including the climb on the path).

**Can you visit Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara with kids?**

Yes, Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara is suitable for children (forest path).

**Where can I park at Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara?**

There is free parking at Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara (at the roadside in the village).

**How do I get to Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara?**

Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara is located at in the village cemetery of Mănăstioara, on the hill, at the end of a forest path, Mănăstioara, Suceava County. By car: Mănăstioara is in Udești commune, about 15 km as the crow flies south-east of Suceava. The road runs through Udești to the village, and from there the church is reached on foot, climbing the hill on a forest path. Public transport: no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option.

**When is the best time to visit Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara?**

The best season for Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple Wooden Church in Mănăstioara: May – October (easier in dry weather).

## Nearby attractions

- [Suceava Princely Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-de-scaun-a-sucevei) — Fortresses and fortifications · Suceava, SV · 20 lei · 1½ – 2 hours · Top 100 · 17 km
  The stone stronghold of the princes of Moldavia in Suceava, built by Peter Mușat and strengthened by Stephen the Great, with a bridge over the moat, walls over 10 m high and a display of medieval arms and treasure.
- [St John the New Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastirea-sf-ioan-cel-nou-suceava) — Monasteries and churches · Suceava, SV · UNESCO World Heritage · 17 km
  The former metropolitan cathedral of Moldavia, built in 1514–1522 in the centre of Suceava and home to the relics of St John the New; its church of St George is a UNESCO site.
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- [Râșca Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastirea-rasca) — Monasteries and churches · Râșca, SV · 45 min · 34 km
  Petru Rareș's 1542 foundation, with the church of St Nicholas painted on the outside too and enclosed by stone walls with a tower; restored with PNRR funds and handed over in May 2026.
- [Ipotești Memorial](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/memorialul-ipotesti) — Museums and memorial houses · Ipotești, BT · 15 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · 34 km
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Last updated: 14 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania