Orthodox Churches

A little bit of history

The Romanian people was born Christian and the 14^th century donarium from Biertan bearing the inscription Ego Zenovius votum posui stands as a proof of Christianity in these parts of Transylvania.

After the Great Schism of 1054 the territory of today’s Romania became orthodox and Romanians - including the ones in Transylvania embraced the new religion with all its traditions. The Transylvanian orthodox have lived through some very wicked times under the Austro-Hungarian domination when they were forced to give up their faith and join the Church United with Rome. In the 18^th century priests, monks or plain believers from Sibiel, Sălişte, Galeş and Sadu ended up in the prison from Kufstein (Austria) because they dared to go all the way to Empress Maria Teresa to ask for their right to freedom of belief.

It was with great difficulties that Romanians managed to build their small wooden churches in the 18^th century. Few of these have lasted till present times because the Austro-Hungarian authorities set them on fire and ravaged them. Among the few left in the county of Sibiu we should mention the ones from Presaca, Broşteni, Sadu, Şura Mare, Ilimbav, Netuş, The Hermitage from Păltiniş, Poiana Sibiului. Another beautiful church is the one from Apoldu de Jos built from fir wood beams at Ocna Sibiului. They say that the locals brought it to Apoldu at night in great secrecy, using big oxen-drawn carriages.

In the 18^th and 19^th century (between 1780 and 1873) a new phenomenon emerged in the villages from Hârtibaci Valley and Ţara Oltului: the ecclesiastical paintings of the Grecu family of painters. Coming from Săsăuş, their painting style is defined by the strong colours they use. In their paintings, religious themes are reproduced with a sarcastic note.

The Grecu brothers painted 13 churches built in the byzantine style as Romanesque basilicas with a gothic tower and influences from the Brâncovenesc style.

The Church of the Dormition, Poiana Sibiului

Poiana Sibiului

Phone no.: +4 0269 531 358

Mobile phone no.: +4 0723 828 864

Orthodox Church

The church was built in 1766 of fir wood with a stone foundation and shingles roof. It is shaped (...)

The Church of the Dormition, Săsăuş

Săsăuş

Mobile phone no.: +4 0742 003 402

Orthodox Church

The church was built by the locals from Săsăuş in 1782 and the painting was done by the Grecu (...)

The Church of the Annunciation, Cârţişoara

Cârţişoara

Phone no.: +4 0269 521 571

Mobile phone no.: +4 0747 854 037

Orthodox Church

At the beginning it was just a small wooden church. In the 19th century, the number of believers (...)

The Church of the Pious Paraschiva, Răşinari

Răşinari

Phone no.: +4 0269 557 332

Mobile phone no.: +4 0755 401 798

Orthodox Church

The Church is in the old centre of the commune of Răşinari in the location named La Scaun - (...)

The Church of the Pious Paraschiva, Tălmăcel

Tălmăcel

Phone no.: +4 0269 556 834

Mobile phone no.: +4 0724 259 299

Orthodox Church

The building of the church started in 1776 but two years later the locals went out of money (...)

The Church of St. Michael and Gabriel, Gura Râului

Gura Râului

Phone no.: +4 0269 572 172

Mobile phone no.: +4 0766 755 909

Orthodox Church

When they had their orthodox church turned into a Greek-catholic church, the inhabitants from Gura (...)

The Church of St. Michael and Gabriel, Jina

Jina

Mobile phone no.: +4 0744 787 680

Orthodox Church

During his visit to Jina the locals told his Highness King Charles II that their orthodox church (...)

The Church of St. Nicholas, Oprea-Cârţişoara

Cârţişoara

Phone no.: +4 0269 523 316

Mobile phone no.: +4 0741 169 523

Orthodox Church

At the beginning of the 19th century there were two stone churches erected in Cârţişoara (...)

The Church of St. Paraschiva, Gura Râului

Gura Râului

Mobile phone no.: +4 0747 113 756

Orthodox Church

They say that where the new church was built there used to be an even older church built in (...)

The Holy Trinity Church, Sibiel

Sibiel Str. Bisericii, nr. 329

Phone no.: +4 0269 552 536

Orthodox Church

This church was built in mid-18th century at a time when the orthodox locals were oppressed (...)