Romanian Welcome Gate – St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Monastery

Instructions to Enter

The gate is scheduled to open automatically between 6:00am and 8:00pm, every day. The automated gate operators are activated by an entry loop sensor in the asphalt. Please drive in all the way and stop between the gate posts, underneath the roof. Wait for the gate to open.

Assembly of the Gate (June 22, 2024)

With God’s help, the container arrived at our monastery on June 14, the eve of our summer feast day. A team of dedicated workers and volunteers helped to assemble the vertical posts and transversal beams on the same day, despite rainy conditions. During the following week, the gate leaves and roof were also installed. The automatic gate operator system is also almost ready.

Again, we thank everyone who has supported us with their prayers, labors, and donations. May God reward your love for His house!

Completion of Wooden Sculpture (May 13, 2024)

By God’s grace, all of the gate components have been completed. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the craftsmen from Maramureș, who have created a beautiful and professional work of art.

After the sculpture was complete, all the wood material was treated according to international codes. Then, the gate components were loaded into the container and transported to Constanța, where the container boarded the trans-Atlantic vessel on May 4. Currently, the gate is en voyage to America, and its estimated arrival date at our monastery is June 11. Upon its arrival, our local team of workers will unload the container and begin assembly of the gate, such that it will be partially assembled by our summer feast day.

Thank you to our devoted sponsors and to everyone who has supported this project thus far. We kindly ask your continued prayers and, if possible, your financial support. By your kindness and continued support, you will help adorn our monastery, as well as witness to the beauty of our Orthodox faith and Romanian culture to our American brethren.

Update (November 25, 2023)

With God’s help, we had good weather this week and the announced paving project was completed. Thank you to the team from Catalyst Paving! Thank you also to everyone who has supported us with their prayers and donations.

Update (November 18, 2023)

With God’s help, the concrete foundation for the gate was completed at the end of October. Several days later, the support posts for the automatic gate operators were installed right next to the concrete foundation.

It became apparent that the driveway was very slanted, so we hired a local paving company to make the driveway level. The whole main driveway from the road to the parking lot entrance needs to be repaved. God-willing, the paving work will be completed before Thanksgiving.

Again, we thank our donors and benefactors, and we renew our request for prayers and donations, especially considering the unforeseen costs of the paving project.

Update (October 6, 2023)

We are grateful to share with you that the carpentry team in Maramureș County has recently begun carving our monastery’s new entrance gate. The wood posts are almost finalized and the gate doors are soon to follow. The gate is composed of beautiful, solid oak, and all the designs are traditional for Romanian gates. It has been a joy seeing the progress made by the carpentry team: they have experience with over one hundred carved gates in Romania, including the gate of Sihăstria-Neamț monastery, which was the original inspiration for our gate.

Additionally, the Orange County Highway Department and the Town of Mount Hope, respectively, have recently issued the required permits. This proved to be a laborious process, so we are thankful to move on to the next stages.

There are still several more complex stages until the gate is finished. After the wood carving is finished, the gate needs to be disassembled and transported by truck from Maramureș to Constanța (on the Black Sea) and then by boat from Romania to New York. In the meanwhile, our contractor will need to measure out and pour the concrete foundation. Once the gate arrives, it will be reassembled and installed on the concrete foundation. This reassembly must also be coordinated with the gate operator expert, whose system will be installed to provide for automatic and safe entry/exit according to a programmed schedule.

Therefore, we kindly ask all our brothers and sisters in Christ to increase their prayers for the smooth completion of this project.

We are grateful to our donors and benefactors for all the support we have received thus far. We encourage you to spread the word among your family and friends who could help us accomplish our goal of finishing this project before winter. Every prayer and every donation is greatly appreciated, as this gate will serve as an authentic Romanian sign of welcome for everyone who visits or drives by our monastery.

Original Announcement

By God’s grace, we intend to construct a Maramureș-style entry gate, inspired by the design of the gate at Sihăstria Neamț. Besides its essential function as a gate that can open/close automatically, it will serve as a (Romanian) sign of welcome for our monastery. The architectural design is in an advanced stage and we have begun the process of obtaining the necessary construction permits. Thanks to the mediation of several faithful devoted to the monastery, the gate will be manufactured by a team of craftsmen near Bârsana in Maramureș County, and then it will be transported and installed here. We express our gratitude to all of our Christian brethren who have expressed their support for this project, as well as those who have already offered donations.