During the 15th century, the first church on the site of the present day Celik-Dere Monastery was built by monks of from Transylvania and Bessarabia, who were returning from Mount Athos. After the church caught fire, the monks received permission for the construction of the current building from the Sultan Abdulmecid (Dobrogea was under Ottoman rule). The monastery has been run by nuns from Bessarabia since 1901. The monastery and the surrounding countryside are inviting places for relaxation and meditation. Built on top of the hills, the monastery’s church stands on top of the complex and is accessible from all the buildings and living quarters.
The Celik-Dere Monastery has maintained its reputation, as well as its famous paintings, created in the early 20th century by Georgie Efthimiou. Arguably the most famous of these is the “icon that cleans itself”.