Petru Rares founded the church with
the celebration day on St. Nicholas', in 1530. It
is one of the most notable achievements of Moldavian
ecclesiastic art, representative for 16th century
Moldavia. Built not far from the old Church of St.
Nicholas in Poiana (dating from the 14th century,
now in ruins), the architectural ensemble of the Monastery
of Pobrata is made up of the church, an imposing edifice,
erected to become a princely necropolis, of the princely
residence, which is joined to the belfry-tower, of
the residence of the Father Superior (now in ruins),
and of a square enclosure fortified by high walls,
towers at each corner and the gate tower situated
on the eastern side (1550). The church takes over,
with slight alterations, the form of the Church of
the Ascension at the Monastery of Neamt. It is sumptuously
decorated with mural paintings both on the inside
and on the outside. The painting of the church dates
from 1532. The inner paintings underwent modifications;
while the paintings on the outside are degraded because
of bad weather conditions. In the crypt are the graves
of Petru Rares (1546), of his wife Princess Elena
and of Stefanita (1552). The tombstones are the most
representatives for 16th century sculpture. They are
the first to have a new decorative theme using floral
motifs. The archeological diggings undertaken at the
ruins of the former Monastery of St. Nicholas at Poiana,
a monument which collapsed as a result of land sliding,
brought to light the fact that the first building
dated from the end of the 14th century, being superposed
on a church founded by Stephen the Great. Both edifices
had been decorated with inner and outer mural paintings,
and on the facades they had a decorative design of
enameled ceramics.
