Feast day of martyr Prince Constantin Brancoveanu and his sons

Prince Constantin Brancoveanu, who ruled over Wallachia between 1688-1714, is considered to be one of the most important promoters of art, culture and Christianity in Wallachia, his heritage being what is now called the Brancovenesc style in art and architecture.

Born on August 15, 1654, his early life showed great promise from early on, as his education was given to him by high boyar Constantin Cantacuzino, one of the most respected persons of that time. Becoming the sole heir of the family inheritance after his brothers' death, he married Marica, the niece of Voivode Antonie (1669-1672), and later became the highest ranking boyar in Wallachia after the ascension to the throne of his uncle, Serban Cantacuzino, fulfilling every mission he was entrusted with.

Following his own ascension in 1688, he transformed Wallachia into an important diplomatic center of Europe, bringing with it a long period of peace, best evidenced by the fact that he only fought one battle during his entire reign. Given the propitious conditions, he founded several important edifices that today are heralded as national monuments, such as the Hurezi Monastery, the Church and Palace in Potlogi, the Saint George the New church, and others, and gave increased importance to art, iconography, printing and culture in general, developing them to unprecedented highs.

In 1714, as a result of numerous false claims by pretenders to the throne of Wallachia, he was considered to be hostile by the High Porte, and together with his entire family, with his sons, Constantin, Stefan, Radu, Matei, and with his adviser Ianache Vacarescu was caught and taken to Constantinople, nowadays Istanbul, being deprived of all their possessions in their country: estates, houses, money...