About
Franciscan monks, in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, accept the entire created reality - including their brothers, sisters, and themselves - as a gift from God. For them, fraternal life is not a theory or ideology, but a way of living in which they learn to love, to sacrifice, to give, and to share what they have, never considering themselves superior to their fellow human beings. 🙏🤲
Members of the Order of Friars Minor (commonly called the Franciscans), founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209, arrived in Transylvania via Germany and Hungary between 1240-1250, first settling in Banská Bystrica, Sibiu, and Târgu Mureș.
The first Franciscan monks arrived in Esztergom in 1677. In the upper part of the village of Estelnic, there was already a chapel dedicated to Saint George, next to which a wooden monastery was built. It was blessed on October 1st 1690. The church next to the monastery was constructed between 1710-1729, using elements from the old chapel - likely the sanctuary. The stone monastery was completed in 1750. ⛪
On the night of December 23rd 1921, the monastery and church were destroyed by fire. Almost everything was consumed by the flames.
In 1926, a church-school was built on the site of the former monastery, where classes were held during the week and religious services took place on Sundays. ✏️ 🙏🏻 📿
Another tragic chapter in the life of the monastery - not just in Estelnic - occurred on the night of August 20th 1951, when the friars living there were deported to the monastery in Radna by order of the Romanian Communist Party.
From the original monastery, only a few elements remain today: the double sacristy, a built-in wall cabinet, the ornamented sacristy cupboard, the less remarkable eastern wing walls, and the carved beam that confirms the monastery’s year of founding.
We invite you to visit the Franciscan monastery in Estelnic to find out informations about the recently renovated monastery, the church and the vocation of the Franciscan monks.
📍 Please contact us in advance to arrange a visit. 📆
In addition to Estelnic, Franciscan monasteries can also be found in Transylvania in the fallowing cities or towns: Brașov, Șumuleu-Ciuc, Dej, Deva, Lăzarea, Căpleni, Cluj-Napoca, Sebeș, and Odorheiu Secuiesc.
