The monastery
Perched atop Spirii Hill, the monastery was founded in 1591 by the great prince Michael the Brave as a token of gratitude for his deliverance from the plots of his enemies. For nearly four centuries, it was one of the most significant monastic settlements in the country.
During the demolitions of 1985, the church was moved more than 280 meters from its historic site, thus escaping destruction. Today, in 2026, it reopens to monastic life, 435 years after its founding and 425 years after the voivode’s death.
Reactivation
The restoration of monastic life was organized to mark the 425th anniversary of the death of ruler and founder Michael the Brave, the first unifier of the Romanian Principalities, who passed away at Câmpia Turzii in August 1601. This act of spiritual restoration brings the monastery back to its original vocation.
Sfinte odoare
Icon of the Mother of God - The Guide
The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary - the Guide, was received as a gift from the monks of Mount Athos, in gratitude for the donations received from the ruler Michael the Brave. The icon was painted in the mid-16th century and restored in 1666, according to the inscription on the icon, by the monk Ioan of Rusicon.
Icon of Saint Hierarch Nicholas
The icon dates from the 18th–19th centuries and was painted in the Post-Byzantine style, with a theological and artistic precision characteristic of the golden age of Wallachian church-building. In the past, the icon was adorned with a handcrafted silver frame, which underscored its status as an “imperial icon.”
Contact and address
Mănăstirea Mihai Vodă
Str. Sapienței nr. 4, sector 5
050134 București
Ways to get here
Subway: M1/M3 – Izvor station
Bus: lines 104, 123, 124, 205, 385
Trolleybus: Line 63
Tram: Line 32
Donations
To support the monastery’s activities, you can make a donation to the following accounts held at Banca Comercială Română.
Beneficiary: Mănăstirea Mihai Vodă
CIF: 16129045