site.btaNuns in Taraclia Make Rose Jam From Monastery Garden

Nuns at the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Convent in Taraclia, Moldova, made rose jam from flowers grown in the monastery’s garden, Sister Ekaterina Sprinchan told BTA on Thursday.

This year’s harvest has been particularly abundant, and some of the products may be presented at the upcoming Etno Fest Taraclia on September 19, Sprinchan said. The rose garden covers around 350-420 square metres, with plants supplied by a nursery in northern Moldova. The variety is locally known as the “tea rose”, as the petals are used for jam and are also dried for tea and herbal blends.

Sprinchan prepared the jam herself according to a recipe, which calls for water, rose petals, sugar and lemon, with the mixture cooked for around 30-40 minutes before being sealed in jars. If given the blessing of their spiritual leader, the nuns plan to present rose jam, herbal teas, monastery wine and other products at the Etno Fest. Proceeds help cover the convent’s upkeep and ongoing construction, which still requires significant funding.

The convent has about five hectares of land in the Taraclia area, where the sisters grow various crops. Five nuns, two brothers serving at the convent and two elderly women live there, with local residents also helping with farm work. The community is also developing activities for young people, as a new Orthodox youth group held its first meeting on September 5, and the convent is planning a pilgrimage to churches and monasteries in the region in late September or early October.

Construction of the convent began in 2011, and the monastery complex, located more than six kilometres from Taraclia, is still unfinished. The convent was officially included on the list of active women’s monasteries of the Cahul and Comrat Diocese in February 2026.