Studia Humanitatis No. I (III) / 2017
Matei Basarab, a witness to the Christian faith
Prof. Dr. Florin Epure Matei Basarab, Prince of Wallachia from 1632 to 1654, is presented as the foremost medieval Romanian ruler in terms of church building, cultural patronage, and Orthodox devotion, having founded or restored over forty churches in Wallachia, Transylvania, Moldavia, and Mount Athos. His reign established printing presses at Govora and Câmpulung, introduced Romanian into liturgical use through works such as the Pravila de la Govora, and created the cultural foundation that made the later Brâncovenesc flowering possible.