Coronation Cathedral, Alba Iulia
| Cathedral of the Holy Trinity | |
|---|---|
Neo-Byzantine layout, Neo-Brâncovenesc elements | |
| Groundbreaking | 1921 |
| Completed | 1922 |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 40 m |
| Spire(s) | Three |
| Materials | Stone |
The Coronation Cathedral (
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Alba Iulia
.
Background
The cathedral and surrounding buildings were raised in the western part of the
Alba Iulia Citadel, on the site of a gatehouse near the Roman Plateau. It was thought of as a continuation of the former metropolitan seat at Alba Iulia (then called Bălgrad), where Michael the Brave built a stone church in 1597. When the citadel was rebuilt in its current form in 1713–1714, the Habsburg authorities demolished this and its materials were used to build a new church near where the railway station is today. A wooden memorial church in the southeastern part of the citadel marks the site of the former metropolitan cathedral.[1]
Built in 1921–1922, the cathedral was ready in time for the coronation of King
Ferdinand and Queen Marie as monarchs of Greater Romania on October 15, 1922. This event, which took place in the same city where the Union of Transylvania with Romania occurred on December 1, 1918, was meant to give the union added symbolic and religious weight.[1][2] Ferdinand, a Roman Catholic, objected to being crowned inside an Orthodox church, so the coronation ceremony was held outside in the courtyard.[3] In commemoration of the event, busts of the king and queen were placed on the grounds in 2008.[4]
Architecture
The cathedral forms part of a group of buildings erected beginning in the late 19th century in the national style promoted by
Greek cross, draws upon the Târgovişte Princely Church.[2] Similarly, the exterior decorative elements, such as niches, beads about the column capitals and arcades, as well as the domes, resemble those found in Wallachian churches from the time of Matei Basarab and Constantin Brâncoveanu. The interior fresco painting, by Costin Petrescu and his apprentices, follows the dictates of traditional Byzantine Orthodox iconography while exhibiting Western influences.[1][2][5]
The entrance to the building has an open porch with large arches supported by columns with capitals. The portal is decorated with traditional motifs, and above it are mosaic icons of the archangels
One special feature are the paintings of historical figures or individuals who played a role in local religious life. Paintings of the
In front of the carved and painted oak
Sălişte, all of whom were canonized in the cathedral in 1955. A pair of thrones inscribed with royal symbols was placed beside the iconostasis during the solemn coronation service.[1][2][5] In addition to the iconostasis, the furniture and choir are also oak and decorated with Brâncovenesc motifs.[5]
The cathedral lies on a rectangular lot which has four
Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, which has held this rank since 1998, having previously been a diocese since 1975.[1][2] The building was renovated in 1993, the 75th anniversary of the 1918 Union.[5]
-
Bell tower -
Pavilion and gallery -
Michael the Brave wall painting -
Iconostasis
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k (in Romanian) "Catedrala Arhiepiscopală Ortodoxă Română din Alba Iulia" at the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Alba Iulia site; accessed November 13, 2011
- ^ a b c d e f g h i (in Romanian) Gheorghe Fleșer and Alexandra M. Băiețan, "Alba Iulia – Oraşul şi Monumentele sale" Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine at the Association of Localities and Historic Art Zones of Romania site; accessed November 13, 2011
- ^ (in Romanian) "Visiting the Coronation Cathedral" Archived 2017-02-11 at the Wayback Machine at the Alba Iulia City Hall's Visit Alba Iulia site; accessed February 8, 2017
- ^ a b (in Romanian) Magda Andron, "Alba Iulia: Catedrala Încoronării regilor Ferdinand şi Maria", Adevărul, 12 July 2009; accessed February 21, 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g h (in Romanian) "Catedrala Arhiepiscopală din Alba Iulia (Reîntregirii Neamului)" at the Alba County Directorate for Culture, Religious Affairs and National Cultural Patrimony site; accessed November 14, 2011
- ISBN 0-19-530853-0.
- ^ (in Romanian) Claudiu Pădurean, "Catedrala Încoronării versus Catedrala Reîntregirii" Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, România Liberă, 13 April 2011; accessed February 21, 2012
- ^ Marius-Cătălin Mitrea, “Episcopia Armatei Române — apostolat în slujba patriei”, in Misiunea, nr. 1/2014, p. 55
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alba Iulia Orthodox Cathedral.