Rock Monastery of the Village of Rogi

The rock monastery near the village of Rogi in the Dubossary district holds the remarkable distinction of being the oldest Orthodox monastery in all of Pridnestrovie. While scientists have yet to determine its precise founding date, research suggests it appeared no later than the 16th century — making it a genuinely ancient place of Christian worship that has endured through centuries of dramatic historical change in this region.

The monastery is carved directly into the rock face itself, with a church and three monastic cells hewn from the living stone — a feat of devotion and craftsmanship that speaks to the extraordinary determination of those who created this sacred space. Modern studies have established that the building was dedicated to Simeon the Stylite, connecting this remote Dniester-side monastery to one of the most celebrated ascetics in the history of early Christianity.

Within the monastery’s interior, visitors can discover mysterious symbols, writings and drawings carved into the walls and ceiling — markings that have proven invaluable to researchers attempting to establish the approximate date of the monastery’s founding, and which lend the space a genuinely mysterious and contemplative atmosphere.

The skete is situated at a considerable altitude, and the approach to it rewards visitors with picturesque and truly memorable landscapes of the Dniester River and the surrounding natural environment. A small waterfall near the monastery adds a further element of natural beauty to this extraordinary destination, making the journey to reach it as memorable as the ancient rock sanctuary itself.

Location: Rogi village, Dubossary district