St. George's Church, Caransebeș Explained

St. George's Church (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 2 Piața Sf. Gheorghe, Caransebeș, Romania. It is dedicated to Saint George.

The church was originally founded as a wooden structure in 1444. Over time, it served as a monastery, as the city’s first library and as a deacons’ school. Its rebuilding as a stone and brick structure began in 1725 and was completed by 1757. A commemorative altar stone inscribed in Slavonic dates to 1759, and probably marks the completion of the interior decoration.

The church suffered damage during the Austro-Turkish War of 1788–1791, subsequently undergoing repairs and a new consecration in 1796. Additional repairs took place between 2000 and 2008.[1]

The church interior was painted in four stages by different artists between 1757 and 1862, in part necessitated by war damage. The latest restoration took place in 1984-1985. The iconostasis, painted in Baroque style, dates to 1863. The icons were done in 1863-1864 by a Viennese Academic painter.[1]

In 1865, the church became the cathedral of the Diocese of Caransebeș. It served as such until 2010, when a new cathedral opened.[1] The church is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.[2]

Notes

45.4103°N 22.2223°W

Notes and References

  1. Description at the Caransebeș Tourist Office site
  2. Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2010: Județul Caraș-Severin