Bujoreni Monastery

Bujoreni Monastery is an Orthodox monastic complex for monks situated in the heart of the Bujoreni forest, on the territory of the commune of Zorleni in Vaslui County, at the source of the Bujoreni stream, at an altitude of 200–250 m in the area of the Banca-Grivița hills. The monastic site has origins dating back at least to the 15th century — an earlier hermitage, referred to as Mănăstirea Recea, is documented in 1444 and was subsequently destroyed during the conflicts between Ștefan cel Mare and the Ottomans in 1475–1476. The first documentary record of the present monastery dates from 27 March 1602, when it was known as Schitul Măgarului, a name derived from a local legend. The current form of the complex was founded in 1840 by the Ioanichie Konachi family, whose vault is located in the monastery courtyard. The church is dedicated to the dual feast of "The Dormition of the Mother of God" and "The Spring of Healing". Dissolved by the communist authorities under Decree no. 410 of 28 October 1959, the monastery was re-established in 1993 and restored between 2003 and 2005, being consecrated in 2005. A new church dedicated to Sfinții Arhangheli Mihail și Gavril was consecrated in September 2023. Access is via DN24, on the Bârlad–Zorleni route, continuing along DN24A towards Popeni, from where a forest road of approximately 7 km leads to the complex.