The Foundation Document of Vasile Lupu College of Trei Ierarhi Monastery of Iaşi
Actul de întemeiere al Colegiului lui Vasile Lupu de la mănăstirea Trei Ierarhi din Iaşi

Summary/Abstract: The monastery dedicated to the three hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, was founded by Vasile Lupu for a theological college to be organized there. This institution, similar with the one in Kiev, was created on 9 May 1640. Its mission was to educate young people who would subsequently be able to participate in theological discussions and polemics with Catholic and Protestant scholars. Students were recruited from elementary school graduates in Moldavia and came from families of lesser boyars, priests, tradesmen, and craftsmen, or from rich families. All expenses related to their education were covered by the Prince, whereas expenses related to the small group of professors who came from Kiev, including the notable Sofronie Poceaţki, were covered from the annual revenue of the villages of Răchiteni, Tămăşeni, and Iugani, as well as from the Prince’s feredeu, levied by the “fervent defender of the holy eastern faith” and donated to the Trei Ierarhi Monastery. The college functioned until 1644-1645, when a new building (the “greater college”) was completed outside the monastery. In the following years, 1646-1647, the monks from Kiev, who had initially made the teaching corps, were replaced with Greek monks, and the activity of the college lost momentum. Ten years later, in the spring of 1656, efforts were made by the new ruling prince of Moldavia, Gheorghe Ştefan, to reintroduce scholars from Kiev and revive this important educational institution of the Moldavian Principality.

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