The Nicula Monastary - a place of pilgrimage for centuries

The Nicula Monastary, located in Transylvania, close to the city of Gherla, is very famous because it has in its possession an icon of the Virgin Mary that supposedly makes miracles. Every year, on the 15th of August and the 8th of September, hundreds of people do a pilgrimage to the monastery in order to have their prayers answered.

The beginnings of this place of worship go back to the 14th century, and are connected to the existence of a hermit called Nicolae, who gave his name to the monastery and to the village that houses it. The first documentary attestation of the monastery refers to the wooden church, built in 1552 and renovated between the years 1712-1714.

There also exists a stone church that was erected between the years 1875 and 1879. Its two towers were finished only in 1905, but the church started being used right after its construction. The church was painted using the tempera technique, in 1961.

A long time ago, there used to be a school here, where children from the nearby villages studied. But besides learning scholastic disciplines, they also learned how to paint icons. This is the reason that for two centuries, there were many icons painted at Nicula which reached homes all over Transylvania.

In 1973, the monastery started collecting objects of worship and soon after, created its own museum. The museum includes old books, glass and wooden icons and books of worship, like Ioan Bob’s Bible from 1795. All in all, it offers an authentic view of local folk art.

The famous icon of the Virgin Mary was created in 1681 by a priest called Luca, from a village called Iclod. It was painted on fir tree wood and it is 2 cm thick. A nobleman named Ioan Cupşa bought it from the priest and eventually donated it to the church.

According to an official report written by a few members of the Austrian military says that between 15 February and 12 March 1699, the icon wept. Because of this alleged miracle, people have been doing pilgrimages to the monastery for centuries. Many who have prayed to the icon says that it still makes miracles to this day.    

Sources:

http://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/manastirea-nicula-adormirea-maicii-domnului-120794.html

jurnalul.ro/special-jurnalul/aducatoarea-de-prunci-70874.html ;