Raport arheologic: Vânători-Neamț/comuna: Vânători-Neamț/județul: Neamț/punct: Fostul schit Nifon al Mănăstirii Secu (2011)

The present report is the result of an archaeological investigation which was required because of the forest exploitation in the area of the "Secu" Monastery and which came as a response to the present Monastery’s Administration’s desire to preserve a number of ruins not yet accounted for in any protection registry of the Romanian state. This study reveals what has been established at the present moment through a survey done after digging and removing forest residues. The need for an archaeological intervention was also required by the lack of bibliographic resources regarding the Nifon Hermitage. In this respect, the last monograph - "Secu Monastery. An ancient unextinguished candle of Neamț Mountains", ed. Trinitas, [Iasi], 2006 - is illustrative; p. 14: "Nifon hermitage, having the Annunciation as its dedication day, founded by the hermit Nifon from Secu Monastery, in 1690"; and p. 33: "The icon of the Lady the Cypriote was moved from Neamt Fortress to the church of Saint Nifon Hermitage in 1718, where it remained until 1758." The research team’s intention is to investigate the archaeological site systematically.