Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Three Hierarchs

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The Cathedral of the Holy Three Hierarchs (Romanian: Catedrala Ortodoxa or Catedrala Mitropolitană ) is a listed Romanian Orthodox Church on Bulvevardul Regele Ferdinand I, No. 1 in District I Chetatea the western Romanian city of Timisoara at the Piata Victoriei, and one of its landmarks. It is dedicated to the Holy Three Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. It was donated by King Michael I and built in the second half of the 1930s by the architect Ioan Traianescu. On 20 December 1936, the foundation stone was laid on 28 August 1938, the bells ordination and 1940 were the remaining work to be completed.

Description

In order to build the cathedral in the marshy area on solid ground, had to be rammed into the ground over 1000 concrete pillars. The style is unusual for an Orthodox Church. There are, though elements of the Byzantine style, but typical for this style domes are missing, but the Church has a total of 11 towers that resemble rather the Moldavian style. The cathedral is modeled after the one of the Hagia Sophia, but remember the other to the built by Ştefan cel Mare monasteries. The towers are covered with enamelled tiles, which form typical Romanian jewelry pattern. The tallest tower reaches a height of 96 m. The church is cruciform ground plan on 65 m long and 32 m wide. In the church are more than 4,000 worshipers.

The interior and the icons were painted by Atanasie Demian, but were not completed until later due to the Second World War, so that the cathedral was not consecrated until 6 October 1946. The iconostasis is a gold finished iconostasis with an area of ​​135 m² and was carved by Stefan I. Goja from Timisoara from linden wood. The mosaic floor is decorated in Banat carpet patterns. About the four tabs with icons rises a crucifixion.

The seven electric bells, which weigh eight tons, are provided with religious inscriptions and come from Indonesia. The polyphonic ringing of bells was voted by the Romanian composer Sabin Drăgoi. In the basement of the cathedral you can admire a collection of old religious art. Here the bones of the saint Ion cel Nou de la Pártos, the patron saint of the Romanian Orthodox believers are in the Banat. Among the most important religious objects in the church include the New Testament by Bălgrad ( Noul Testament de la Bălgrad ) from 1648 and the Homiliarium of Metropolitan Varlaam ( Cazania lui Varlaam ) from 1643, two of the oldest documents in the Romanian language.

Gallery

In the winter

Detail of the towers

The Cathedral at night