of Mother Eufrosina Lazu (1844-1887), Mother Olimpiada's novice, numerous works took place, in order to expand the monastery: The Church "The Birth of Saint John the Baptist" was rebuilt from stone, in 1844. The church was initially built from wood in 1817, in the old monastery cemetery. Around 1880 several improvements were made to the building, and the interior walls and the iconostasis icons were painted. The "Transfiguration" Church was built during 1845-1847, due to the extension of the monastic settlement towards south and south-west. The inner painting of the "Dormition of the Virgin Mary" Church was redone in 1882, by painters T. Ioan and D. Iliescu Văratec Monastery also housed a liturgical music school (1859-1860); a mixed village school (from January 1860); The Primary Girl School (from 1 September 1860); as well as a "School for adults" (from 1 September 1911 until 1943) which was frequented by the nuns up to 50 years old who hadn't graduated primary school; The Monastic Seminary for Nuns (1948-1950); and also the monastic and liturgical music school (from 1940). The following superior mothers after Mother Eufrosina Lazu were Abbess Eugenia Negri (1887-1894) and Abbess Veniamina Hermeziu (1894-1904). Văratec Monastery in the 20th century Văratec Monastery was affected by a great fire during the night of 10/11 June 1900, which burned most of the cells and the roof of the main church. After the fire the church roof was rebuilt with only two steeples, without the former wooden steeples. The actual building complex was built from the monastery enclosure, the only original building being the surrounding wall, built during 1808-1812. "Saint Nicholas" Chapel was rebuilt during 1903-1909, the iconostasis and the interiors were painted by hieromonk Eftimie Obrocea from Ciolanu Monastery. There were 304 nuns and sisters living in Văratec, in the year 1909, under abbess Evghenia Teodor. In 1934, at the idea of metropolitan Pimen Georgescu of Moldavia, a building was established on the southern side of the enclosure, the "Queen Mary" workshop, where the nuns worked on church embroidery, carpets and national canvas. In the monastery, in November 1940 functioned several workshops: church embroidery and book binding, carpets, knitting, church painting and decorative art, most of them being still present. From 1960, this building has been set up as museum, housing a rich collection of exhibits. A bronze statue of Saftei Brâncoveanu, made by sculptor Ion Jalea was placed in 1935, close