apses are hollowed in the lateral sides of the nave, in the thickness of the walls. The iconostasis (templon), separating the nave from the altar (sanctuary), is sculpted in yew wood and gilded in gold. It was made by Constantin Zugravul in 1816, on the expense of lady Elencu Paladi. The altar apse has a semicircular shape, with a deacon room on the south side and niche for the table of oblation (where the Holy Communion is prepared, during the Divine Liturgy). Tombs near the altar apse Outside the church, under the altar apse there is an ossuary where the bones of the mothers who played an important role in the monastic community were moved from the old monastery cemetery. archimandrite Eugenia Negri (1818-1894) - sister of the political figure and writer Costache Negri and mother superior of Văratec Monastery from 1887 to 1894. Above her tomb is a marble funerary monument with a bass relief of a house in a mountain forest, and a Romanian inscription saying: "Here lays Her Holiness Mother Maica Eugenia Negri Archimandrite and Mother Superior of Varaticulŭ Monastery, born in 1818 and deceased in 1894. Pray for Her!" And the sculptor name is written at the base "G. Franzoni Jassy". archimandrite Veniamina Hermeziu (1 March 1821 – 24 February 1904) - superior mother from 6 August 1894 to 24 February 1904. On her marble funerary monument is the next inscription in Romanian: "Archimandrite Veniamina Hermeziu 1821 (1 March) - 1904 (24 February) Superior Mother of Văratec Monastery 1894 (6 August) - 1904 (24 February)". schema nun Evghenia Ștefănescu (1821 - 19 July 1889) - daughter of priest Petru from Gârcina and sister of bishop Melchisedec Ștefănescu of Roman; she was in charge the monastery's financial administration. archimandrite Eufrosina Lazu (1797 - 13 May 1887) - Mother Olimpiada's novice and superior mother of the monastery from 1844 to 13 May 1887. On her marble funerary monument is the next inscription in Romanian: "Archimandrite Efrosina Lazu born in 1797, became a nun in 1814, chosen superior mother in 1844. Died on the 13th of May 1887". Ecaterina Balș (22 July 1814 - August 1887) - born in the Dimachi family, second wife of general Teodor Balș (1805-1857), locum tenens of Moldavia's lord during 1856-1857, with whom she got married on 30 June 1846 in Dimăcheni (Dorohoi). On her marble funerary monument is the next inscription in Romanian,