Cheia Monastery is an Orthodox monastery located in Prahova County, Cheia village, close to the Bratocea Pass, which once separated Wallachia from Transylvania. This place served as a shelter and stopping place for Romanians from Transylvania persecuted under foreign rule. In addition, the monastery was a meeting point for Transylvanian shepherds during transhumance and for wagon convoys with goods crossing the area. Over the years, both the village of Cheia and economic activities such as logging have developed here.
Cheia Monastery went through several stages of development, with three churches built over time. The first church was built of wood in 1770, the second church was built in 1835, and the third church, the current one, was consecrated in 1839. The monastery was largely financed and built by the monks who lived there, without receive any major help from traditional founders.
Throughout its history, the Cheia monastery has had a significant impact on the local community, not only spiritually, but also educationally, socially and culturally. The monastery also houses a collection of valuable icons and cult objects, as well as a library of old manuscripts and prints, illustrating the rich intellectual life of the area. The monks from Cheia were actively involved in the social life of the locality, offering spiritual guidance, but also participating in charity and even in the battles for the liberation of Transylvania in the First World War.
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The town of Cheia is located right at the base of the Ciucaș mountain, at an altitude of 880 meters. Protected by mountains on three sides and exposed to the sun, it benefits from cool summers and clean air, making it an excellent choice for a climatic holiday resort. In the cold season, it is the right place for practicing winter sports.
The charm of this resort is also due to the surrounding mountains, where the cabins offer panoramic views. From these peaks, there are views of the imposing ridges and valleys of the Ciucaș mountains, including Penteleu and the valley of Buzăului, Bucegii and Șara Bârsei, along with the valleys converging down towards Cheia.
At the entrance to the resort is the Cheia Monastery, originally built of wood around 1770, but looted and destroyed by the Turks in 1777. It was rebuilt in 1835, during the reign of Alexandru Ghica, with the support of his brother, the great Vornic Mihail Ghica. The interior paintings of the church date from 1839.
Source: Bucharest-Brașov on variants (Ministry of Tourism, 1976)
Sursa: www.manastireacheia.ro
