Teodoreni Monastery
About Teodoreni Monastery
Teodoreni Monastery, sometimes also called Todireni, stands in the Burdujeni district of Suceava, on the left bank of the river, facing the old fortress of the Moldavian princes. According to tradition a small wooden church from the time of Stephen the Great once stood on the spot; the stone church was raised in 1597 by the postelnic Teodor Movilă, half-brother of Prince Ieremia Movilă. The year is carved on the stone cap of the buttress at the altar, together with the abbreviated name of the master builder Constantin Batiște, the founder's brother-in-law.
The Church of the Ascension has a trefoil plan, an octagonal tower over the nave, walls over a metre thick and a band of blind niches under the eaves, clearly related to the Church of St Demetrius in Suceava. After the devastation of the Russo-Turkish war of 1769–1774 it was rebuilt in 1785, when it also received its oak and linden iconostasis, with Baroque and Rococo elements. The secularisation law of 1863 abolished the monastery and the church became a village parish; the cells burned down in 1917. The restoration and painting of the church, together with the rebuilding of the buildings in the precinct and of the walls, took place between 1986 and 1992, and in 1992 the monastery was re-established with a community of nuns.
What you can see
The entrance is under the bell tower of 1597, with a stone arch at ground level, into the rectangular precinct closed by walls over 2 m high. In the courtyard the church can be seen from all sides, with its star-shaped tower and blind niches, and around it the rebuilt cells with a wooden veranda. Inside, the new paintings, in fresco and Byzantine style, are the work of the painter Nicolae Sava; from the old paintings the votive portrait of Teodor Movilă and his son Ioan has survived. The iconostasis of 1785 remains the church's most precious work of art.
Good to know
The România Atractivă programme lists the site as "under rehabilitation, visitable", but no official or press source about works on the church in 2025–2026 could be found. Right next door, an old-people's home of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți has been under construction since December 2025, and is later to have its own chapel and bell tower. It is a working convent: modest dress and quiet within the walls.
Information verified on 14 October 2026.
- The gatehouse bell tower of 1597, through which the precinct is entered.
- The trefoil church with an octagonal tower and a band of blind niches, related to St Demetrius in Suceava.
- The iconostasis of 1785, of oak and linden, with a Baroque and Rococo look.
- The votive portrait of the founder Teodor Movilă and his son Ioan, kept from the old paintings.
- The stone enclosure wall and the rebuilt cells with a wooden veranda, in the well-kept courtyard.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the monastery is in the Burdujeni district, on the left bank of the Suceava river, about 4 km as the crow flies from the town centre; the address for navigation is 16 Ecaterina Teodoroiu Street.
Public transport: the monastery's website lists the “Spital Neuro” stop (buses 4, 22, 28), a 4-minute walk, the “Cinema Burdujeni” stops (buses 15, 17, 21 and 1, 2, 3), 8 minutes, and the “Torino” stop (bus 23), 12 minutes.
- Rules
Modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, heads uncovered for men. Quiet within the walls, no smoking. Photography inside the church only with the nuns' consent and not during services. The monastery has no accommodation for pilgrims.
- Facilities
Icon and bracelet workshop with an online shop
Frequently asked questions about Teodoreni Monastery
- How long does a visit to Teodoreni Monastery take?
- A visit to Teodoreni Monastery takes about 45 min (church, grounds and tower).
- Can you visit Teodoreni Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Teodoreni Monastery is suitable for children (modest dress and quiet).
- How do I get to Teodoreni Monastery?
- Teodoreni Monastery is located at 16 Ecaterina Teodoroiu Street, Burdujeni district, Suceava, Suceava County. By car: the monastery is in the Burdujeni district, on the left bank of the Suceava river, about 4 km as the crow flies from the town centre; the address for navigation is 16 Ecaterina Teodoroiu Street. Public transport: the monastery's website lists the “Spital Neuro” stop (buses 4, 22, 28), a 4-minute walk, the “Cinema Burdujeni” stops (buses 15, 17, 21 and 1, 2, 3), 8 minutes, and the “Torino” stop (bus 23), 12 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Teodoreni Monastery?
- The best season for Teodoreni Monastery: All year round (the grounds, in spring and summer).
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to Teodoreni Monastery, sorted by distance.
Top 1005 km from Teodoreni Monastery
6 km from Teodoreni Monastery
12 km from Teodoreni Monastery
