Orhei district Peștera hermitage and Peștera estate. From the first mentions to the 19th century

The article, on the basis of examination of published and unknown documents show some pages regarding the history of Peștera (Brănești) estate and of the localities on their territory - Peștera (vechiul Orhei) and Peștera (Movilău/Brănești). Also, here is exposing new information regarding the history of the Pestera hermitage and the transformation of his cave Nativity of Our Lady church in the parish church of the Butuceni’s community.

List of illustrations:

Fig. 1. 1 - Peștera estate („where Vechiul Orhei was”) in 16th century (designed by S. Ciocanu); 2 - Peștera estate („where Vechiul Orhei was”) in 17th-18th centuries (designed by S. Ciocanu). Fig. 2. Golia’s monastery Trebujeni estate. Fragment of the 1886 year project. Fig. 3. Pestera town seal (apud S. Tabac). Fig. 4. Pestera hermitage seal (apud S. Ciocanu). Fig. 5. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni. Project (1887) (by I. Mihalevici). Fig. 6. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni: 1 - Project (2001) (by T. Bobrovski, B. Riduș); 2 - Picture (by S. Ciocanu). Fig. 7. Refuge rooms from Butuceni’s crag. Projects (2001) (by T. Bobrovski, B. Riduș). Fig. 8. 1 - Bosie monastery. St. Nicolae cave church portal (1665) (by S. Ciocanu); 2 - Butuceni. Nativity of Our Lady cave church portal (1821) (by Gh. Postică). Fig. 9. Nativity of Our Lady cave church from Butuceni. Bell tower (1822) (picture from the beginning of the 2oth century).