Cașin Church (), sometimes referred to as Cașin Monastery (''Mănăstirea Cașin''), is a
Romanian Orthodox
The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC; , ), or Romanian Patriarchate, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox Christian churches, and one of the nine patriarchates in the Eastern Orthodox Church. S ...
church located in
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
, at a large intersection a block away from
Arcul de Triumf
Arcul de Triumf (Romanian language, Romanian; "The Triumphal Arch") is a triumphal arch located on the Șoseaua Kiseleff, Kiseleff Road, in the northern part of Bucharest, Romania. The monument, designed by Petre Antonescu, was built in 1921– ...
. It is dedicated to the Archangels
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* he He ..., a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name
* Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...
and
Gabriel
In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel ( ) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran. Many Chris ...
.
History
Plans for the church's construction were made in 1935 by a parish council that included
Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisești
Gheorghe Ionescu-SiseÈ™ti (16 October 1885–4 June 1967) was a Romanian agronomer. He was elected titular List of members of the Romanian Academy, member of the Romanian Academy in 1936,Vasile Militaru and the architect I. Bălănescu. At Father Dumitru I. Manta's urging, funds for the project were obtained through significant donations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Domains and from monthly subscriptions given by families and institutions. Several donations came from General
Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu (; ; – 1 June 1946) was a Romanian military officer and MareÈ™al (Romania), marshal who presided over two successive Romania during World War II, wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister of Romania, Prime Minister and ''ConducÄ ...
.
Dimitrie Ionescu-Berechet Dimitrie is the Romanian form of a Slavic given name. Notable persons with that name include:
;First name
* Dimitrie Alexandresco (1850–1925), Romanian encyclopedist
* Dimitrie Anghel (1872–1914), Romanian poet
* Dimitri Atanasescu (1836–190 ...
, chief architect of the Romanian Patriarchate, won a contest to design the church, to be built on land donated by Bucharest City Hall. The cornerstone was laid in August 1937, and the structure complete in March 1938. Work then stopped but was resumed in 1946–1959. The church combines the Brâncovenesc style, with its entrance columns, with
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great established a new Roman capital in Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until the Fall of Cons ...
, as seen in the mosaics, the centred Greek cross plan and the high and spacious interior.
The marble and alabaster
iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis () is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a Church (building), church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere withi ...
, with icons in mosaic, was done from 1952 to 1959, following Ionescu-Berechet's plans and with contributions from artists Ion Dimitriu-Bârlad, Constantin Baraschi, and Mihai Wagner. Between 1962 and 1971, the walls and floors were covered in 3 m high white and rose marble plates, a balcony for the choir was installed, and large mosaic icons of
Murano glass
Venetian glass () is glassware made in Venice, typically on the island of Murano near the city. Traditionally it is made with a Soda–lime glass, soda–lime "metal" and is typically elaborately decorated, with various "hot" glass-forming techn ...
placed at eye level along the walls. Repairs were done in 2002–2003, and the domes, formerly copper green, were painted bright green in 2008.
This church's name refers to the valley of
Cașin
Cașin is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to t ...
, in
Bacău County
Bacău County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in Western Moldavia, with its capital city at Bacău. It has one commune, Ghimeș-Făget, in Transylvania.
Geography
This county has a total area of .
In the western part of the county there a ...
, a place where history combines with myth.
Description
The church, measuring 42 x 29 m, has three
apse
In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...
s, and the highest dome reaches . Its surface area is . The altar apse is semicircular and is surrounded by an open, arched portico. A large polygonal dome rises above the nave; its windows are arched and it has small columns all around. Four smaller octagonal domes of similar design surround the main one. The vestibule features a large arch; in the centre of its exterior there is a large mosaic featuring Michael and Gabriel, surrounded by ornamentation.
Twelve stone steps lead up to an open area outside the entrance, surrounded by five frontal and two side arches supported by pairs of short white marble columns decorated with old Romanian patterns. The outside wall to the left and right of the entrance doors is also plated with marble and, above, decorated with mosaic icons. The doors have bronze bas-reliefs of Michael and Gabriel as well as Saints
Peter
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a su ...
and
Paul
Paul may refer to:
People
* Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people
* Paul (surname), a list of people
* Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament
* Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...
.
As usual in Orthodox churches, the inside of the main dome is painted with
Christ Pantocrator
In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator (, ) is a specific depiction of Christ. or , literally 'ruler of all', but usually translated as 'almighty' or 'all-powerful', is derived from one of many names of God in Judaism.
The Pantokrator i ...
. The arches and walls of the sanctuary are entirely decorated in Murano glass, a first for Romania. The altar apse, noticeably raised, appears lit in green, in contrast to the white marble with which the iconostasis is plated.
In front of the church, a bust of Marshal
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Averescu (; 9 March 1859 – 2 October 1938) was a Romanian marshal, diplomat and Populism, populist politician. A Romanian Armed Forces Commander during World War I, he served as List of Prime Ministers of Romania, Prime Minister of thr ...