Schitul Darvari Church

About

The Darvari Skete (Romanian: Schitul Darvari) is a Romanian Orthodox skete located at 3 Schitul Darvari Street, Bucharest, Romania. It is dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. In 1834, căminar (tavern tax collector) Mihalache Darvari built a small church with no dome behind the Icoanei Church.

Surrounded by monastic cells and walls, it served as a family chapel. Nuns from Pasărea and Samurcășești monasteries were brought in the following year. They remained until 1864, when domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza ordered them outside the city, and services were subsequently held by married priests.

In 1869, monks passing through from Prodromos visited, officiating like on Mount Athos and attracting many visitors. A few stayed behind. In 1894, administrator Nicolae Darvari repaired the ruined skete, adding a small dome to the church.

The old church was entirely demolished in 1933-1934 and replaced by the current structure. Architect Gheorghe Simotta employed an Oltenian-Muntenian style, while the entire interior was painted in Athonite fresco by Iosif Keber. In 1959, the communist regime sent the monks to the monasteries at Cernica Monastery and Bucium, and Darvari became a subsidiary...