„HOLY TRINITY” ORTHODOX CHURCH OF MAIERI II

„HOLY TRINITY” ORTHODOX CHURCH OF MAIERI II

A monument of great historic significance is the church in Maieri II neighbourhood which was first built in the Lower Town for the Romanians settled in the area. It is remarkable that the materials used to build the edifice were salvaged from the former metropolitan church of Michael the Brave. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, when the construction works to the fortification in Alba Iulia started, the edifices of the old Orthodox Metropolitan Church (which meanwhile became the Episcopate of the Romanian Church united with Rome) was located in the vicinity of the south-east corner of the medieval fortress. They were hampering the construction plans which aimed at setting up a long counter-guard which would cover this area as well and so they took the decision to demolish the existing complex.

Many materials from the cemetery that existed next to the old metropolitan church were reused at the new church built in the Maieri II neighbourhood, on the outskirts of the city after the 18th-century configuration. In fact, the distance between the old and the new church was small, about 300 m.

The edifice was quickly raised between 1713-1715 with the money received from authorities for the demolition of the old complex (1300 florins). Until 1720, the new church served as the seat of the Greek Catholic Episcopate. This was also the place where they re-buried Atanasie Anghel, the metropolitan bishop who ruled the destinies of the Romanian church in Transylvania at the moment of Greek-Catholicism establishment. His remains were recently removed and taken to Blaj. It is also remarkable to note that the first primary school with teaching being done in Romanian also functioned in the shadow of the church (1760). Also, the choir of the church had an outstanding activity in the nineteenth century and the first part of the 20th century, organizing various cultural events, even theatre performances.

Initially small and dark, the church was later extended, the last time in the mid-twentieth century. Its plan is a hall church with a recessed apse, semi-circular inside and polygonal on the outside. The baroque bell tower is oversized, taller than the length of the church body. Access to the tower is made through a staircase placed inside the wall.

Among the most valuable elements of the church: a bell from 1620; the tombstone of squires Ana de Hunedoara (deceased in 1622) which was lodged at the base of the tower and was probably brought from the old cemetery of the Mitropoly of Michael the Brave; the rows of bricks disposed in a „chainsaw” pattern laid on the most part of the outer perimeter of the nave denote the influence of architecture in the South of Carpathians. Among the most valuable elements of the church – a bell from 1620; the tombstone of squires Ana de Hunedoara (deceased in 1622) which was lodged at the base of the tower and was probably brought from the old cemetery of the mitropoly of Michael the Brave; the rows of bricks disposed in a „chainsaw” pattern laid on the most part of the outer perimeter of the nave denote the influence of architecture in the South of Carpathians.

The painting of the church was made by Hieromonk Iosif from Wallachia, at the expense of a certain Bucur Spinare. The current painting dates back to the 50’s of the 20th century, but there are some areas where the 18th-century painting is still visible; the largest such area is the tympanum of the choir, where the scene of the ecumenical council of Nicaea is represented. On the stone baptismal font, a specific element of Catholic churches, there is a Latin inscription (dated in 1786) that reminds of the shipmaster Andreas David of Partos.

In the courtyard of the church there is also a bust of Michael the Brave, a recent element that this place has to offer to visitors.

Scientific consultant: Tudor Roșu, PhD historian

Translation made by: Ciprian Dobra, PR expert