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Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery: Ninh Binh’s Sacred Spiritual Landmark

07:38 - 30/12/2024

5/5 - (1 vote)

Tucked up in Ninh Binh province, the Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery is a great emblem of the spiritual legacy of the area. One of Vietnam’s most loved spiritual sites, this holy location is closely entwined with the beliefs and customs of the nearby people. With MOTOGO Tours, let’s explore its historical and spiritual importance!

History of Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery in Ninh Binh

Chau Son Monastery in Ninh Binh is a serene retreat of the Cistercian Order, where monks withdraw for meditation and spiritual development. The monastery also goes under Chau Son Church, Chau Son Cathedral, or the “Brick Church.”

Director of the Fatima Prayer Garden at Chau Son Monastery, Father Thuy, revealed that the church was built with a French Gothic architectural style between 1939 and 1945. Especially, the church’s vaulted roof was created by clever combination of molasses, sugarcane pulp, and bamboo rather than reinforced concrete.

The church, with exception of the red-tiled roof, which was rebuilt in 2014, has maintained its unique qualities and minute details despite its 77-year history. Together with the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Hanoi Cathedral, and Phu Nhai Church, the Chau Son Mother Church is one of the four churches dedicated in Vietnam in 1945.

Visiting Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery

There are some pragmatic things to think about if you are going to the Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery. Here is all you need know about seeing this amazing location.

Opening Hours of Chau Son Monastery

Though Chau Son Monastery is open daily of the week, guests are suggested to visit at the following hours:

Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

These hours fall following the prayer sessions in the cathedral among the monks. Besides, the monastery does not welcome guests during Lent, the forty days preceding Easter every year.

How to Reach the Monastery

Chau Son Monastery is located about 35 kilometers from Ninh Bình city center. You can reach it by taxi, bus, or motorbike. Visitors can choose a local guide to tour the surrounding countryside or enjoy a picturesque road drive throughout the rich settings of the area. There are lots of hired private cars and busses accessible if you’re heading from Hanoi.

Best Time to Visit

The spring and autumn months are the ideal times to visit the Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery since the temperature is moderate and the surrounds are rich in greenery. The monastery is especially lovely during these seasons since the temple grounds are ablaze with vivid blooms.

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Architectural of Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery

The Chau Son Monastery, nearing a century of age, is often described as a flower blossoming amid the Nho Quan, Ninh Binh. The distinctive, classical European architecture of this quiet haven attracts tourists. Let us explore this interesting framework!

Architecture of the Main Building

Along with his students, young monk Father Placido Truong Minh Trach—who lacked official architecture instruction—built the monastery with an eye toward meditation and spirituality. The monastery’s architectural design, which evokes an old fortress tucked amid the verdant woodland, accentuates its mysterious appeal.

Standing 21 meters tall, 64 meters in length, and 20 meters in breadth, the primary church is fashioned in the Gothic style. With the facade facing east, it is east to west oriented and represents a spiritual direction toward Christ.

The Enchanting Beauty Inside the Church

Windows grouped across two levels—the top and bottom floors—beautifully adorn the walls of the church. While the outside windows have “pierced” stained glass honoring pictures of saints and Christ, the windows within are opulent hardwood glass.

Natural light streams through the big windows within the church, lighting the two broad aisles. This light enhances the precisely crafted columns, therefore enhancing their uniqueness. The white vaulted ceiling also highlights the special murals depicting the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and several saints inside, therefore stressing the architectural craftsmanship.

The Peaceful and Green Courtyard of the Monastery

Hundreds of vibrant plants and flowers, painstakingly cared for for style and creative trimming, call the monastery grounds home. Visitors will come across careful designs during a visit comprising gardens, rich vegetation, and detailed sculptures of saints.

Surrounding the chapel lies the large Fatima Garden, a verdant green space with meadows and a glistening clean pond. Along with an artificial stone egg garden, the garden features southern area stones.

Furthermore included in the grounds are a cave called Skull Mountain behind the Chau Son Mother Monastery and a stone well known as the Jacob Bee Well, deep under the surface. These components produce a calm and respectful environment that makes it ideal for monastic life and spiritual development.

Cultural and Spiritual Importance of Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery

Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery is a site firmly entwined with Ninh Binh’s cultural fabric rather than only a monument of architectural beauty. For many people, it is the pillar of spiritual life and a major pilgrimage place.

Chau Son as a Pilgrimage Site

Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery has been a site of religious pilgrims looking for divine blessings and protection for hundreds of years. Local culture is strongly rooted on the conviction that the Holy Mother has ability to deliver safety, health, and wealth. People from all around Vietnam so swarm to the monastery, particularly around important religious events.

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Annual Festivals and Ceremonies

The monastery has yearly celebrations attracting sizable numbers of people. Centered on worshiping the Holy Mother, these celebrations comprise traditional Vietnamese entertainment, religious rites, and community meetings. If you visit at one of these celebrations, you will encounter the lively enthusiasm of the residents together in their religion and respect.

Connecting with Local Beliefs and Practices

Seeing Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery can help you to understand the particular spiritual traditions of the area. The site offers a chance to learn about the customs, beliefs, and rituals that have molded Vietnamese society over ages. Here guests may really engage with the way of life of the area.

Things to Note When Visiting the Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery

For the monks, the Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery is a place of prayer and meditation; thus, guests can only visit the monastery following prayer times. Checking the operating hours helps you to guarantee a full and interesting experience.

The monastery might also be closed to visitors at specific times, say the start of August, March, or throughout the Lenten season. Usually, religious events or unique ceremonies carried out at the monastery account for these closures.

At last, here are some fundamental guidelines to keep respect and peace in this holy monastery by your visit:

Your visit should be marked by modest and suitable attire that respects the holy surroundings.
Steer clear of noisy activity around the monastery.
Kindly not litter. To help the monastery’s unspoiled beauty last, dispose of waste in assigned bins.
Avoid picking branches, flowers, or acting in ways that can harm the surrounding trees and plants to the monastery.
Without permission, never visit the living or study quarters of the monks or any other restricted location.

Visiting Chau Son Holy Mother Monastery is a trek into the core of Vietnam’s spiritual and cultural legacy. Chau Son is a hidden treasure not worth missing for anyone wishing to enjoy the peace and quiet of Vietnam. If you want to know all the details about the location, join Vietnam Motorbike Tours, where you’ll have a full guide to assist you.

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