Analysis of the Heraldic Elements in the Building and in the Document Dated 1715 That Was Issued for the Antim Monastery in Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

The study aims to highlight the letter issued by Antim Ivireanul, the metropolitan of the Romanian Country between 1708 and 1716, [15], [14], [24], [5], [18], in which he mentions how the Monastery of All Saints in Bucharest (today called Antim Monastery) was built, to be an example to be followed in a 32-headed settlement, the coat of arms of the above mentioned founder, as well as the heraldic elements painted on the document, or carved in this place of worship in the capital of Romania. For the preparation of the present study we researched the funds of documents located at the Central National Historical Archives and at the Antim Monastery in Bucharest. Regarding the actual description of the different types of coat of arms, we have complied with the heraldic norms and the recommendations of the former International Sigilography Committee. When designing this study, we considered the interest that these heraldic compositions (paintings or sculptures) may present for teachers, pupils, students, as well as for the general public. I considered that in the modernization stage of the instructionaleducational process, heraldic sources can serve to the better understanding of some historical phenomena, especially concerning the marks used during the time of the ancestors, but can also help to decipher the symbols by which the ancestors have expressed aspirations. At the same time, the study constitutes an impetus for the intensification of the actions meant to detect, preserve and introduce these testimonies of the past into the scientific circuit.