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The '''Sinaia Monastery''', founded by Prince [[Mihai Cantacuzino]] in [[1695]] and named after the great [[St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|Sinai Monastery]] on at the base of [[Mount Sinai]], is located in the [[Sinai Peninsula]]Romania. It is now inhabited by 20 [[Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] Christian Orthodox[[monk]] monkss.

The [[monastery ]] consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre center of each courtyard there is a small church built in the [[Byzantine style]]. One of them - "Biserica Veche" (The Old [[Church]]) - dates from 1695, while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.

The monks possess a library that constitutes a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino family, as well as the earliest [[Romanian language|Romanian]] translation of the [[Bible]], dated 1668.

Until [[1850]], [[Sinaia]] consisted of little more than the monastery and a group of huts. In [[1864]], however, the [[monastic estate]] estate was assigned to the Board of Civil Hospitals (''Eforia Spitalelor Civile''), which opened a hospital and several baths, and helped develop [[mineral spring]]s springs in Sinaia.

In 1948 the Monastery goes was placed under the patronage of the [[Diocese|Archdiocese]] of [[Bucharest]] from by the Board of Civil Hospitals. The [[Romanian Patriach Orthodox Church|Romanian]] [[Patriarch]] Justinian restores then restored the buildings between the years 1951 and 1957 with the money from the Archdiocese of Bucharest. At this point they fit outfitted the whole Monastery monastery with running water, electricity and natural gas.

The Old Church was built in 1695. As of 2006 it is currently closed and for renovations until it is restored to the old its former beauty.

'''The Great Church''' was first built during 1842-1846 as a smaller building. It happened The construction occurred under the leadership of the fathers superior (egumeni[[igumen|Egumeni]]) Ioasaf and Paisie and with the , financed by money from the monastery.

The Board of Civil Hospitals did rebuild rebuilt parts of the church from 1897 to 1903. This change gave the Great Church the appearance of it has today.

 The nowadays monastery's current appearance is was created by George Mandrea, an architect who combined the moldavian Moldavian style with 's thick walls with the ''brâncovenesc Brâncovenesc style'' from Valachia. A green enamel belt encircles the building with in three intrerupted uninterrupted lines. It is said this is the symbol of the Unity unity of [[Holy Trinity ]] in one God and the Unity unity of the Three three Romanian Kingdoms in one country.

The paintings are painted on gold mozaic mosaic - typical for the neo-bizantine Byzantine style. These paintings are made were done by the danish painter Danish artist Aage Exner. The main pictures shows five personspeople:* Iosif Gheorghian ''mitropolit primat'' - he is the one igumen who opened in 1903 the new buildingin 1903* [[Carol_I_of_Romania|King Carol I]] (1866—1914) - dressed as an officer and , with his right hand upon a rock pillar missing a piece as a symbol of the missing Romanian territories at that time: Bucovina, Basarabia and Transylvania.* [[Elisabeth_of_Wied|Queen Elisabeta]] (- known in the literary world as Carmen Silva)* [[Princess_Maria_of_Romania_%281870-1874%29|Princess Maria]] - queenthe Queen's only child , who died at an early age* Mihail [[Cantacuzino]] - builder of the old churchOld Church

The furniture is made from wood (''paltin'' and oak) by Constantin Babic and his students at the ''Ṣcoala de Arte si Meserii'' from in Bucharest. The thrones are gold -plated. The Kingking's throne has the royal emblem and the writing ''Nihil sine Deo'' (Nothing without God). The Queenqueen's throne has the letters E.D. embossed.

The two russian Russian icons of Saint Serghei and [[Saint_nicholas|Saint Nicholas]] are were a gift from Tsar [[Tzar_Nicholas_II|Tzar Nicholas II of Russia]] and were given in 1903 to the egumen Igumen Nifon Arhimandritul for the [[baptism ]] of [[Prince_Nicholas_of_Romania|Prince Nicholas]] (''Nicolae''), son of [[Ferdinand_I_of_Romania|King Ferdinand]] (1914-1927).

Thanks to Carol I, the Great Church of the monastery has become became the first church to use the electric lights in Romania.

During Under the leadership of egumen Igumen Nifon Popescu (1888-1909) there was added the Bell Towerwas added. It was finished in 1892. The bell weights 1700kg 1700 kg and it was brought from the Colţea Tower in Bucharest.

Celebrating 200 years To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Old Church in 1895 they , the monastery opened the Museum of the Monasterya museum. This is was the first exhibition of church objects in Romania.

Prince Mihai Cantacuzino founded the monastery as a in thanksgiving for having escaped Ottoman brigands upon his return from a pilgrimage to St. Catherine's. It was named Sinaia in recognition of St. Catherine's. * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinaia_Monastery Sinaia Monastery - Wikipedia]

[[(Click for larger view) <gallery>Image:Ornament_fereastra_mastirea_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|Beautiful ornament of the monastery windows]][[Image:Intrarea_bisericii_mari_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|The Entrance to the Great Church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Detaliu_stilp_Sinaia_1.jpg|thumb|left|Details of the pillars at the entrance of the Great Church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Detaliu_stilp_Sinaia_2.jpg|thumb|left|Details of the pillars at the entrance of the Great Church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Intrarea_din_spate_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|The Back Entrance to the Great Church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Muzeu_manastirea_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|The Museum of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Mormint_manastirea_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|A grave next to the Great Church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Detaliu_usa_vechii_biserici_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|Detail of the entrance door to the old church of the Sinaia Monastery]][[Image:Geam_biserica_veche_Sinaia.jpg|thumb|left|Window to the Old Church of the Sinaia Monastery</gallery>[[Category:Monasteries]]<br style="clear[[Category: left"/>Romanian Monasteries]]