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by Alan Ogden (Author), Octavian Ion Penda (Illustrator), Kurt Treptow (Introduction by)
The monasteries and painted churches of Moldavia stand today as a testament to the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Romanian people. These monuments, unique in the world, reflect a cultural legacy inherited from Byzantium and the Roman Empire.
After the fall of Byzantium and the expansion of Ottoman rule throughout the Balkan Peninsula, the Romanian principalities became the most important depository of the Byzantine heritage. It was here that this tradition was preserved, creating the historical phenomenon that the great Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga would refer to as "Byzantium after Byzantium." The monasteries and painted churches of Northern Moldavia stand today as true Revelations of Byzantium. This full-color album is written and photographed by Alan Ogden, the author of Romania Revisited and Fortresses of Faith. Ogden provides a comprehensive introduction discussing the art and architecture before presenting each church separately in words and pictures to reveal its unique history and artistic beauty. Also included is an introduction to the history of Moldavia and Romanian lands during the Middle Ages by Kurt W. Treptow, a noted specialist on Romanian history, and original illustrations by renowned artist Octavian Ion Penda.Author Biography
After a career as an international public relations executive, Alan Ogden turned his passion for travel and photography into photographing and writing about some of the places dearest to him. His books include Romania Revisited: On the Trail of English Travellers, 1602-1941, Revelations of Byzantium: The Monasteries and Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia, and Fortresses of Faith: A Pictorial History of the Fortified Saxon Churches of Romania, among others. He was a founder member of Pro Patrimonio, an NGO whose main mission is the conservation, rescue and reactivation of the cultural heritage of Romania, especially in architecture, and also of the Patrick Leigh Fermor Society, which published the quarterly The Philhellene. He lives in London, England.
The author, Kurt W. Treptow, is a noted specialist in East European history. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. His other books include A Historical Dictionary of Romania, From Zalmoxis to Jan Palach: Studies in East European History, and A History of Romania.
