The Monastery Fresco
Although well preserved, the painting was not intirely maintained. Even in the Aisle and the Altar where the paintings have been complete, whole scenes or only details have been erased because of the passing of time.
This makes almost impossible to understand the meanings of the icons and the value of the style. Though the beautiful sculptures add incomparable value to this holy place, the founder decided to adorn the walls and the dome with fresco paintings so as to fulfill its work.
According to Tradition there were paintings on the threshold and the Preaisle also. The painters of Dragomirna, whose names are written on the Altar walls, Popa Crăciun Mătieş, Popa Ignat and Gregorie had been trained, undoubtedly at the Moldavian Traditional painting school.
As well as its architecture, the painting of the Dragomirna monastery brings new meaning to the Moldavian style, offering a different perspective to the iconographic art. The new painting technic does not completely liberate itself from the old style of painting.
The whole iconographical assessment, based on two main composition, the first is the “pentocrator”(icon on the dome of the church representating Jesus Christ, with a kind look, slim figure and long beard) the second is the higher part of the apse in the altar, of great elegance, built in such a way, in both elevation and depth, thus creating an impression of movement.
The red backround of the sky gives grandeur and a special brilliance. The furniture in the church is quite recent, dating from 1975. It is made out of oak by a family of masters, Croitoru and its ornaments resemble the ones on the steeple.
Dating from recent period also, from 2003, the iconostasis is centered by the wonder-working icon of Virgin Mary.
The exact date and name of the person to have offered this icon is unknown to us.
The icon is made out of silver and the gentle, radiant face with the kind look of Jesus’ Mother seems to follow you in any part of the church.
The wonder-working icon representing the Mother of Jesus from Dragomirna is known to help those who are ill and in case of drought it brings rain; still, many of the miracles made by this icon are not written in any place.
Details from iconostasis: