Nativity of St. John the Baptist Church, Focșani

[1] The monastery was a cultural and religious center, offering theological training and preparing a large number of monks, priests and deacons.

One of the wealthiest churches in the area, it owned several villages, estates, vineyards in Odobești, forests, stores and houses in Focșani.

Around 1850, following numerous petitions to the royal court, Princes Gheorghe Bibescu and Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei finally asserted control over the monks.

[1] Over the years, the church suffered damage from earthquakes, the devastating 1854 fire, pillage by Ottoman troops during the reign of Constantine Mavrocordatos and by Filiki Eteria forces during the Wallachian uprising of 1821.

Located near a border post, the church witnessed important events surrounding the 1859 union of the Principalities, including the first Te Deum for national unity held on the square in front of the church, a "Hora Unirii" danced by domnitor Alexandru Ion Cuza, and military marches starting with Romanian independence in 1877.