Saharna Monastery

Saharna is a village in Rezina district, Moldova. Together with the villages of Saharna Noua and Buciusca, it forms part of the commune of Saharna Noua.

The village lies about 110 km north of Chisinau on the right bank of the Dniester river, at an altitude of 28 metres above sea level.

The village of Saharna is famous for its cave monastery and the active Holy Trinity monastery for monks. This monastery is one of the largest pilgrimage centres in Moldova. The relics of the holy Venerable Macarius are kept here.

On one of the rocks there is a footprint left, according to legend, by the Mother of God. The legend says that the schema-hieromonk Bartholomew, head of the old rock monastery, saw a radiant image of the Mother of God appear on one of the rocks. When the monks reached this rock, they found a footprint in the stone, a sign they took as a divine message and a testimony to the «divine purity» of this place. Later, closer to the gorge, a new wooden church was erected and the Holy Trinity monastery was founded (1777). Then, on the site of the wooden church, a stone church was built in the old Moldavian style, richly decorated with wall frescoes. Today the monastery is open to visitors every day.

The surroundings of Saharna are known for their beautiful landscapes — the rocky, forested gorge of the Saharna river, more than 16 km long, with over 30 rapids and cascades. One of the most beautiful waterfalls is very close to the monastery. It is 10 metres high. The water forms a deep pit known as the «Gypsy's Pit».

There is also an important archaeological site here with Iron Age remains and a Geto-Dacian fortress on a high promontory.