History
Archaeological surveys conducted in 1971–2 have shown that a church building had already existed at the site of the current church by the second half of the 13th century. Human burials were unearthed which were attributed to the German sepulchral culture of this time. Already by the beginning of the 15th century, this building was replaced by a second, which took the form of an aisleless church with an unusually long nave. Parts of this structure survived in the northern nave of the current building. St. Margaret's church was first documented in 1414. The construction of the present building probably started after a devastating Ottoman raid in 1438. The church registry of 1447 relates that a Father Christian from Mettersdorf (Dumitra) had filed a public protest against the Bishop of Weissenburg (Alba Iulia) ''"in porta ecclesiae parochialis beatae Margarethae virginis et martyris in oppido Medyes'' – at the door of the parochial church of the blessed virgin and martyr Margaret". The oldest church bell has an inscribed date of 1449. During the second half of the 15th century, the choir, nave, and south aisle were modified. According to the 18th century historian Georg Soterius, an inscription was found on the walls of one of the towers relating its date of completion as 1484, and that the building was completed in 1488. Some fortification works were already documented in 1453. The fortress with its triple encircling walls, moat and five defensive towers, was likely completed later. In 1545, the first Evangelical Synod of Transylvania assembled in St. Margaret's church. In the wake of the reformatory iconoclastic fury, all side altars and religious statues and images were removed, the frescoes on the north wall of the nave and north aisle were painted over in white. Further renovation works are documented for 1584, 1606, 1636 and 1668. In 1732, the organ was restored on the western gallery. In 1832, the pillars on the northern side of the nave were reinforced. Major restorations were also conducted from 1888–1892. In 1927–1930, the foundations of the main tower, the Trumpeter's tower, were stabilized. An archaeological survey of the building and its surroundings was conducted by the Romanian scientists Vasile Crişan and Mariana Beldie-Dumitrache in 1971 and 1972. In 1973–1974, the foundations of the Trumpeter's tower had to be reinforced again. This time, the two lower floors were mantled in prestressed concrete. Further restorations were conducted from 1973–1986. From 1976–1982, the late Gothic winged altarpiece, one of the masterpieces of Transylvanian art, was thoroughly cleaned and restored.Interior
The main altar, located in the choir of St. Margaret's church, is a late Gothic winged altarpiece, dated between 1480 and 1520. Its work-day (closed) view is adorned with eight painted panels depicting the passion of Christ. On the northern walls of the nave and north aisle, frescoes were discovered under layers of white paint, and partly restored. In the choir, eight grave slates are on display today, one of them commemorating the pastor, poet and humanistLiterature
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Medias Lutheran church Lutheran churches in Romania Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism Historic monuments in Sibiu County Fortified church buildings in Romania Gothic architecture in Romania Churches completed in 1488 1488 establishments in Romania Mediaș