Biserici și mănăstiri

The Murgasu Church was built between 1807-1811. The church was painted on the outside only on the porch after the construction was completed in 1811. The church was recently restored and both the frescoes from the outside and from the inside of the porch were repainted. In 2008, the preservation condition of the church was satisfactory. Source: http://cimec.ro/Monumente/LacaseCultPictExt/RO/Documente/ASP/detaliu.asp?k=18885-1

The Orthodox Church "Assumption of Virgin Mary" and "St. Pantelimon "- Mântuleasa is a historical architectural monument of local interest, located in the central area of Craiova, on Calea Unirii St., no 59. The building is surrounded by other significant historical monuments, including the Varvoreanu House, the Nicolae Romanescu House, the Feraru House and the Grigorescu House. The story of the church is inscribed by its entrance: " By the will of Our Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, this church was built in 1792 on the grounds of an older one, having the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Saint Panteleimon and St. Catherine as patron saints, by the tailor’s guild helped by the treasurer Barbu Știrbei as well as other local merchants. Being severely degraded, the church was rebuilt in 1896 by priest Ilie Dumitrescu’s diligence and the financial help of several wealthy parishioners and painted by the Romanian painter Costache Petrescu. Between 2011-2012 the church was consolidated and restored together with the whole historical ensemble, under the patronage of IPS Dr. Irineu Popa, the Archbishop of Craiova and the Metropolitan of Oltenia, by the diligence of P.C. Parish priest Constantin Reşceanu. The first place of worship built on the site of the current Mântuleasa church was a small wooden church built in the early or mid-eighteenth century by the landlady Despina (or Dospina), the wife of treasurer Strămbeanu. At that time, it was not a common thing for a woman to set up churches, the same initiative being also taken by Dumitra Ştirbei, the wife of the great high Steward Constantin Ştirbei for the Holy Trinity Church. By the end of the century, a stone church was built right on the place of the tiny church, at the initiative of the treasurer Barbu Ştirbei, supported by the tailor’s guild as well as other local merchants. According to an article from the Archives of Oltenia, 10, no. 54-55, from March to June 1931, an old inscription dated June 2, 1786 of this destroyed church stated loan Tarzibașa ( terzibașă meaning chief of tailors), Matei Tarzibaşa, Master Dicu Cojocaru, cupbearer Constantin Otetelișanu, Dragu Dumitru and Stoian Croitoru among its founders. Due to this significant contribution, the church took over Saint Pantelimon-patron of the tailor’s guild as its own patron. The guild specific flag, which was taken at the end of the 19th century and later deposited at the Princess Ileana Crafts Corporation from Craiova, disappeared during the German occupation of Oltenia, in 1916-1918. No particular details about the architectural style and appearance of the Mântuleasa church from 1786 are known. Source: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/biserica-mantuleasa-craiova/

The Lutheran Evangelical Church (Augustan cult) is hosted in a historic architectural monument of local interest, located in the centre of Craiova, on Calea Unirii st, no. 13. The building is located near the Jean Mihail Palace (currently the Art Museum) and opposite to the National Bank of Romania - Dolj Branch. The current building dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, being built on the initiative of the archimandrite Sükei (Ciuche). According to an article published in the 29-30 issue for January-April 1927 of the Archives of Oltenia, entitled "About Protestantism in Wallachia", there were 61 Protestant families in Craiova, in 1838, the number of persons increasing to about 250 until July 1839. The majority of them was made up of different ethnicities of Protestants, especially English, Austrians, Prussians and Russians, settled in Craiova. Based on this statistic and according to a report issued by the "Church Affairs Department" and a request issued by the archimandrite, the prince of Wallachia - Alexandru Dimitrie Ghica Voivode approves in 1839 the construction of a protestant confession chapel in Craiova. The only condition imposed by the prince was that proselytes should not be accepted in this church. A certain architect named Lindhorst, built the present edifice in the second half of the nineteenth century (around 1870-1872). But, in 1861, the Evangelical Community of Craiova is transferred to the Prussian Office for Cults, the Prussian state being obliged to ensure the proper functioning of the school and the parish. Moreover, it is also evident from the archimandrite's correspondence that another evangelical/reformed church existed in Craiova earlier than the present one, without any knowledge of its location. In 1881, the Evangelical Confessional School was set up in the back of the church building. The pastor of the evangelical community, accompanied by three teachers, took care of the education of 131 students. This institution was active until 1945 when it was closed by the communist regime. The building is considered to be the oldest Protestant worship place in Oltenia, belonging to the neo-Renaissance style. In front of the building, up to the entrance gate, there is a long, tree-lined courtyard crossed by two lateral alleys leading to the church. Currently, the church hosts both the Evangelical-Lutheran community, comprising 34 parishioners as well as the reformed community. The religious services are provided by pastors of the Evangelical District Consistory in Sibiu on the first Sunday of the month and also on the occasion of religious holy days celebrations. Sources: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/biserica-evanghelica-luterana-craiova/ https://www.facebook.com/pg/MonumenteOltenia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=297033960438534

Dedicated to: Holy Annunciation The liturgical program: Sunday and religious celebrations: 9.45 - Holy Liturgy Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9.00 Litany Saturday: 9.30 - Holy Liturgy Events: October 13th of October 2008 - Sanctification of the new church in Craiova (bru.ro) 6th of July 2009 - The Holy Mother of Guadalupe a pilgrimage to Craiova (bru.ro) Jurisdiction: Greek-Catholic Eparchy of Bucharest Priest: Iulian Mladin Source: https://www.parohiigreco-catolice.ro/2015/05/parohia-greco-catolica-craiova-dolj.html

It mainly is known as the Cathedral of Our Lady, being one of the largest Orthodox churches in Craiova. The church was built in Brancovenian style between 1750-1756, at the initiative of Constantin Fotescu and Hagi Ion Gheorghe, having side apses and arches thereof with stone poles decorated with leaves. The church was named after the wonder icon of the Virgin Mary, which – according to the legend - would have been found in a mulberry tree on the place where the altar was later built. The Madona Dudu church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was later rebuilt in 1844 after its demolition during the earthquake in 1831. The painting on the interior walls of the church belongs to the famous painter Gheorghe Tatarescu. Between 1800-1801, the whole city was be set on fire by his Turks of Pasha Cara Mustafa, under the command of Pasha Pasvanoglu of Vidin. The churches were considered among the most important buildings to be destroyed. The Madona Dudu church was also burned down, the thrones, the pulpit and many icons perishing in the flames. The painting was severely damaged, and the buildings around the church were burned to the ground. With God’s mercy, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God escaped from the fire. The earthquake of 1838 has greatly damaged the church. Not being able to be strengthen, the church was teared down for six years she then rebuilt and decorated in Baroque style. Landlord Iordache Otetelisanu employed the architect who handled the works from Vienna. sources: https://www.facebook.com/pg/biserica.madona.dudu/about/?ref=page_internal https://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/biserica-madona-dudu-craiova-122141.html

Obedeanu church, being the titular saint of the "Annunciation" and of "St. Emperor Constantine and Elena ", the church was build in the first half of the eighteenth century, from 1748 to 1753, by the great priest Constantin Obedeanu. In chronological order, the foundation of Constantin Obedeanu was after the wall churches St. Ilie (1720), St. Gheorghe Vechi (1730) and St. Ioan Sebastian (1742). All other churches were made of wood. It is the only brick church in the first half of the eighteenth century that keeps its writing from the years of its construction. Dionysie Fotino numbered it among the eight monasteries of Craiova. The large family of Obedeanu, has undertaken a series of clerical acts and beneficences to churches and monasteries, being at the same time one of the riches boyar families in Craiova and probably in Oltenia. The settlement was at first a monastery and a hospital. In 1775 the "Princely School from Obedeanu Monastery" was built here, and in 1822 the public school of Obedeanu Monastery became the "Princely School", where it was taught not only in Romanian but also in French an Greek. Following the great earthquake of 1838, the church became "in a perfect dilapidation," as shown in a document of the time. A few years after the earthquake (1843-1844) the church is restored: the porch closes and remains with only a tower. The last radical repair was made in 1857-1858, and between 1930-1931 it was painted again inside, the windows changed and a tower was added. The buildings in the courtyard of the church were demolished in 1888-1889, building on their spots premises for primary schools for girls and boys (Obedeanu School). According to Pr. Drd. Ioan Ioanicescu, of everything that was once Obedeanu, today only the church and a part of the wall surrounding the school on the sides of the west and north, can be seen. Sources: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/fosta-manastire-obedeanu-biserica-buna-vestire-si-sf-imparati-craiova/ https://www.biserici.org/index.php?menu=BI&code=164 http://memorielocala.aman.ro/files/biserici.html

”All Saints” Roman-Catholic Church or the St. Anton Church Titular Saint: All Saints; St. Anton In 1827, priest Ludovic Bodor, supported by Bishop Iosif Molajoni, bought with 300 golden coins from Smaranda Prisăceanca the place where the local church is currently built. The construction of the building began on this location in 1844, having the following dimensions: 14 x 7 stânjeni and the height of 4 stânjeni (“stânjen” was a old measurement unit; 1 Stânjen = approximately 2 m). The church was planned to have 3 altars. The bell tower was 35 ocale (“oca” was an old measurement unit; 1 oca = 1,283 kg), and in 1857, Bishop Angelus Parsi would offer as a gift a 70 ocale weight bell. Then, the Church was sanctified in 1844 by Bishop Molajoni, in honor of "All Saints". A school was established in a large chamber of the parochial house by teacher, having as priest Ludovic Bodor as teacher. Major repair and refurbishment works were made after 1884 by the new parson, priest Eduard Struzina. Emperor Franz Joseph donated 2,500 golden coins. The old tower of the church was demolished, being built a new Gothic tower that lasted until the earthquake from 1977. A clock was installed in the tower, the church windows were replaced and three new beautifully sculpted altars were brought. The organ for the church was purchased in 1894. General repair works were made in 1910 and 1922. The earthquake of March 1977 seriously damaged the church tower and the part of the building located near the tower, which had to be demolished and rebuilt in its original form. The church was also consolidated. In 1884, Eduard Struzina became parish priest and brought to Craiova the Congregation of Mary Ward nuns, English Ladies, who immediately established a school for education and learning for girls, which quickly developed under the guidance of Mother Superior Gisela Kolbay (having elementary school and boarding school which were highly requested in Craiova at that time). The Institute closed its activity in the summer of 1948, together with the process of schools’ nationalisation. A shelter for poor women, founded by parson priest Andrei Kuczka, was also established on the land belonging to the Craiova Parish. Between 1998-1999, the interior of the church, the paintings and the statues as well as the interior of the parish house were renovated. Between 1991-1994, with the support of the Governments of the Republics of Germany and Italy and under the guidance of Pr. Dean Râtan Ionel, a kindergarten named "Saint Anthony" was built in the courtyard of the Parish. In 1992, the location of the catholic school where the Roman Catholic Dean is located and where The Roman Catholic Theological Medical School "Saint Joseph" is currently functioning (nurse school) was recovered by court decision. https://www.biserici.org/index.php?menu=BIA2&code=1459&criteria=&quick=&radio=b&order=P.TOWN,C.NAME,P.NAME https://www.gds.ro/Actualitate/2014-08-02/Biserica+%E2%80%9ESfantul+Anton%E2%80%9C%2C+o+opera+arhitectonica+de+200+de+ani/

The Holy Trinity Church is located on Ion Maiorescu Street, no. 9 (formerly Barbu Ştirbei), in front of the Carol I National College. It was founded by Dumitrana Ştirbei, the widow of Constantin Ştirbei, between 1765-1768. The fact that the building of the church began in 1765 is mentioned in a document of dated in December 15, 1765, which states that: "Dumitrana Ştirbei built a church near her houses in Craiova." The church was built outside the city, right on the edge of Craiova, in order to have the necessary space for its "courtyard". The landlords' courtyards around the churches formed at first the first outskirts of the city, later becoming the most developed area and the centre of Craiova. Dumitrana Ştirbei endowed the church; in 1782 she ordered a chandelier with 24 candlesticks from Sibiu and painted the church. Barbu Ştirbei, son of Dumitrana brought the painter from Sibiu. A bell with the following inscription “this bell was made by landlady Dumitrana Ştirboaica who placed it at the shrine of the patron saint in Craiova“ was brought in 1790. After 1811, according to the requests stipulated in Barbu Ştirbei’s will, cells were built here. In 1821, the Arnauts who came from Bucharest to fight against Tudor Vladimirescu were imprisoned in this church, causing great damage, the building needing reparation afterwards. In 1823, the roof was restored, the church being covered with "tiny splinter, well done and beaten in four". No major damage occurred following the earthquake in 1838. In 1840, the church was restored by Barbu Ştirbei (the future ruler of Wallachia) and the inscription mentioning its first founders was made. A new repair was made in 1890 and between 1901 and 1906 it was demolished and rebuilt according to the plans of the architect André Lecomte de Nouy, who also rebuilt the church of Saint Dumitru from Craiova. Anton C. Brăiloiu (Prefect of Dolj) was one of the churchwardens that administered the possessions of this church but, due to a disagreement with Ştirbei, was replaced with Major Alfred de Marentzeler (Austrian Catholic confession). He also repaired the church, demolished the cells built after 1811 and arranged a beautiful garden on their place. During the First World War, the President of the Craiova Court of Appeal, Mihalache Măinescu was named as churchwarden. Dumitrache Bibescu and his wife, Catinca Văcărescu, are buried in the church. In 1890, the attempt to build a hospital from the church's funds unfortunately failed. However, a medical dispensary for the poor was temporary installed in the houses near the church, and after 1940, was placed in a permanent location. Sources: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/ansamblul-bisericii-sfanta-treime-craiova/ http://www.ziarullumina.ro https://adriandobrephotography.wgz.ro http://memorielocala.aman.ro/files/biserici.html

Located in the proximity of Lipscani Street, the main shopping street of the old city centre and near the Administrative Palace, the actual church was built on the site of an older church, established in the 18th century by the Otetelişani landlords. The Church dedicated to St. Ilie, founded by Ilie Otetelișanu, was built in the eighteenth century. Although the original inscription of the church was not preserved, an inscription dated in 1890, still legible, mentions the year 1751 as the year when the first church was built: " This holly church was built in the place of the old church founded by rep: Ilie Otetelișanu in 1751… on the throne of the country being King Carol I and Queen Elisaveta, Ferdinand as successor, Bishop DD Ghenadie, founders Maria C. Otetelișanu and sons, represented by tutor and uncle Sava Şomănescu and Mayor P. Otetelişanu founders. Adori Barbu Ionescu, B. Rioşianu, treasurer D. Istrati, secretary D. Cutiana, Arhitetu F. Springer, C. Trolli & C. Bardelli entrepreneurs. The foundation stone of this church was set on July 7, 1889, and finished on August 30, 1890”. However, the will of Ilie Otetelișanu discovered in the the Hurezi Monastery’s archive and dated 11th of December 1732, stated that "my sweet hope, my church in Craiova", to which he wished "to finish its rooftop and cover it with splinter". Otetelișanu 's testament proves that, in 1732, St. Ilie's Church already existed for a number of years in order to justify the need for repair works. Based on this information, the teacher and historian Petre Gârboviceanu determines 1710-1725 as the period of building the church, 1720 being the year accepted as the most probable date for the completion of the construction. Thus, St. Ilie's Church is considered to be the oldest wall church built in the 18th century century in Craiova. The church of Ilie Otetelișanu had a single tower and was small sized, but was endowed with silverware, garments and books, but also with estates, thus becoming one of the richest places of worship in Banie region. The place where the church was built was one of the busiest in the city, located near Craiova's permanent fair, so-called Afternoon Fair, which would later be called St. Ilies's slum. Through his will, landlord Otetelișanu endowed the church with estates, his houses from Craiova, the Suteşti vineyard and other real estates, and empowered his cousin, Barbu Otetelişanu, son of Gorgan Otetelişanu as founder of the church but also obliged him to “dress the poor people, release the debtors from the prison and feed the sick people " from his incomes. During 1838 earthquake, "the church tower broke up in three places, two interior pillars cracked, and the plaster dropped". Following the earthquake, landlord lordache Otetelișanu and the church warden Grigore Otetelișanu carried out capital repair works which completely changed its appearance. The painter Constantin Lecca painted St. Ilie church between 1840-1841. The church was rebuilt between 1889-1896 and then restored in 1939-1940. Ioanid, a painter from Bucharest, under the direct supervision of painter Gh. Tattarescu, painted the church in 1892-1893. This was the last church painted by the artist. The incomes of this church supported the Lazaro-Otetelişanu Girl’s School and contributed to the foundation of Wallachia’s first Central School for Girls, by the diligence of Iordache Otetelişanu. From Petrache Poenaru's unique letters resulted that, before 1835, Iordache Otetelişanu started a girls' boarding school in rented houses. On 21st of March 1836, the Cupbearer Constantin Lazarie made his will and left the houses in Craiova, which he had inherited from his wife, to a girls' boarding school be settled there. In 1837, Iordache and Grigore Otetelişanu brothers drew up a draft of their testament, deciding to transform the Lazarie houses into a, using the money donated by St Ilie church where they were administrators. In 1867, Grigore Otetelişanu mentions in his testament the fact that the Lazaro - Otetelişanu external girls' boarding school would be financed from its own and St. Ilie's church founds. Being a private church and not a monastery, its possessions escaped from the secularisation process, but the expropriation left it without its estates, making it very difficult to cover Otetelişanu boarding school’s expenses. sources: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/biserica-sf-ilie-craiova/ http://memorielocala.aman.ro/files/biserici.html https://www.facebook.com/pages/Biserica-Sf-Ilie-Craiova/130511314272573

St. Nicholas Church in Calafat The church "St. Nicolae "in Calafat is an architectural monument, being one of the main religious places in the city on the Danube, alongside the " Assumption of the Virgin Mary "Church, the "Spring of Healing " Church and the" St. Martyr Gheorghe ", considered a monument. Situated in a central area of the city, midway between the Town Hall and the entrance to the harbour, the church has attracted many believers for over a hundred years. St. Nicholas Church in Calafat was built between 1730-1740. The Parish in which it fell had for a long time the name “The slum from the Hill” („Mahalaua din deal”). In ancient time, because of the constant Ottoman danger across the Danube, the church operated in the beginning in a cottage. It was later build, but still in the ground, walls. In the autumn of 1830, the church hosted at a Holy Liturgy the Serbian price Miloş Obrenovici, and Alexandru Ghica, the price of Wallachia. The eucharistic satisfaction brought to God was due to the conclusion of a convention at Poiana Mare, the domain of the Serbian price, known in history as "The Poiana Mare Salt Convention". This was the first written contract of Muntenia. The holy sanctum rose above the ground in 1853, when it was covered with ridge-tile. During the Crimean War, the reconstruction works were interrupted. Then resumed, they ended in 1856. In the period 1860-1861, by the care of a committee headed by the priest Matei Dobriceanu, with the help of Vâlcea Jivcov and Mihail Atanasiu, the construction was extended and raised. Five years later, on the initiative of the parish priest Petru Calafeteanu and the churchwardens D. Nicolescu and S. Mladenovici, benefiting from the support of the local authorities and the community, the church was given a dome, its iconostasis was changed and it was again painted. Towards the end of the century, the church was serviced by a parish priest, two supernumerary priests, three singers and two sacristans. In this status, the church was many times honoured by the presence of Price Carol I. The king passed here at the beginning of the Independence War, the headquarters of the Romanian Army being at Poiana Mare, in the Obrenovici pavilion. "The Independence Church" In 1905, the parish priest of St. Nicholas Church, priest Petru Calafeteanu, started a vain struggle for the “independence city” to have a cathedral worthy of the role it had in the history of the country. That year, under the mayor I. S. Drăgulescu, the timber market had moved from the front of the old church, some small buildings were demolished; so the surrounding area, merged with that of the Public Gardens had increased. In 1906, when the mayor of Calafat was Ion Ciupag, even the holy sanctum is being demolished. On the hearth of the old church, on March 20, 1906, the monumental building began to be built, following the plans of the architect Kafauniski, the works being led by the architect C. Anghelescu from the Plenita commune. The church was designed in the form of a cross, with a hemispherical cap, a narthex and two smaller turrets clogged in front, with a main apse and two lateral cap, the narthex with a hemispherical cap including the balcony. The porch was designed openly, supported on four columns that are at the end of a monumental staircase. The figurative painting and the painting of the dome were painted by Covaci. For the most part, the surface of the painting is covered with ornamental motifs foreign to our traditional style, in a tempera oil emulsion. The iconostasis is made of hewed limewood, and the 49 icons are pirogravated and slightly coloured in oil. The church was finished in 1910, when it was sanctified and brought into use during Bishop DD Ghenadie. For its expansion, a series of surroundings building had to be demolished, and the Public Garden would be widened in the greenfield left in the church’s perimeter. On the occasion of the excavations made for the reconstruction, many crosses of graves were found, probably remaining from the old cemetery near the holy place. Helped by the boyars and the philanthropists of the Calafat city The raising of the church was made entirely by private means, in order to raise the funds a committee of citizens, having as president Ilariu Marian, the son-in-law of Ionita Marincu (two in a road mayor of Calafat: 1891-1894 and 1898-1901) was formed. He gathered around him six of the great and wealthy landowners of Calafat, who decided to contribute each one with a year's income. Ilariu Marian, Ştefan Marincu, Dumitru Arssenie and Sima Năiculescu gave 10,000 lei, Vasile Mirica and I.S. Dragulescu, 5,000 lei. With the same amount contributed also Mari Faranga, the heiress of another great philanthropist - Gheorghe Giuroglu, whom the city thanked the 28-bed hospital, as well as Calafat Bank, whose president was Ştefan Marincu and Vice-President Dumitru Arssenie. Also, all the inhabitants of the city made their way to lifting the cathedral, either by working with their hands, or by power, contributing with money. Incorporated naturally in the public garden area, uninterrupted due to demolitions made to create a church building space, it required to be protected by a fence. On March 25, 1907, at he extraordinary meeting of the Local Council, the amount of 1,037 lei proposed by the mayor was approved, on the basis of the estimated sums elaborated by the architect engineer of the city, necessary for the fencing of the park. In 1908 and then in 1913, King Carol I, inspecting the Dorobanti Regiment 31, visited, as usually, the historical monument, and took part every time in the Te Deum liturgy in his honour, in the new and grand Cathedral of Independence, St. Nicholas. His face, together with the Prime Minister of the country, D.A. Sturdza, is painted on the walls of the church, above de main entrance. Worthy servants at the Altar of the Church of St. Nicholas Over the years, at this beautiful cathedral served priests like: Marin Petrescu, Petre Calafeteanu, Stefan Ionescu, Dumitru Rudareanu, Florea Pretorian, Antonie Căliman, Vartolomeu Gavrilescu, Vasile Marinş, Gheorghe Guţulescu. Today, at the Holy Altar serves priest Adrian Micu. Through out their labour, the church overcome the vicissitudes of time, which has imprinted on its body, whose paintings have deteriorated, requiring it to be restored to bring it into the initial state of profound aesthetic and emotional delight. Through the craftsmanship of the restorer Mircea Constantinescu, during 1988-1992, when the parish priest of the church was Vartolomeu Gavrilescu, this grate work of art was accomplished. A new and wonderful coat was given to the church, because of the external restoration performed during the priest Gheorghe Guţulescu during 2004-2005, with funds allocated from the local budget of the city, supplemented by voluntary contributions of the citizens of the parish. Place of worship and silence, the "St. Nicholas" Church, through its majesty and architectural grandeur, is one of Calafat's valuable adornments, a tourist attraction admired by all who pass through our locality. Sources: https://ziarullumina.ro/actualitate-religioasa/regionale/oltenia/biserica-sfantul-nicolae-din-calafat-111111.html https://audiotravelguide.ro/biserica-sfantul-nicolae-calafat/ http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/biserica-sf-nicolae-calafat/

În anul 1820 a fost fondată de către Constantin, Mihail, Dimitrie Cernătescu, Dumitru şi Ioan Opran biserica ce a fost finalizată în anul 1827. Pictura originală s-a păstrat până astăzi, în ciuda anilor mulți care au trecut peste ea.  Legenda ridicării ei pe locul pe care se află în prezent este foarte veche. Se spune că vechiul sat, aflat la vreo trei kilometri peste deal, în zona numită Treștenic, se afla o bisericuță din lemn. Ea a fost incendiată de către turci, iar vântul a luat o bucată din locașul de cult și a adus-o pe locul unde a fost ridicată actuala biserică. Această bucată de lemn se află acum – împreună cu alte obiecte care vorbesc de trecutul oamenilor acestor locuri – în Cula Cernătești, alt locaș încărcat de istorie.

The "St. Nicholas" Church - Ungureni is a historical monument representative of the local cultural heritage, registered in the List of Historical Monuments 2015 of Dolj County at no. 207, code DJ-II-m-B-08017, with the name " St. Nicholas " Church - Ungureni, Craiova municipality, Dolj county, dating the end of the XVIIIth century, ref. 1774-1780. The church is located in the southern part of the city, at the intersection between Calea Caracălului and Ana Ipătescu Street, near the Ungureni cemetery, not far from Romanescu Park. It is over 200 years old, being built around 1774-1780, on the site of an old wooden church.   Once upon a time, in the area near the church, the persecuted shepherds from Transylvania came to sell their sheep to the slaughterhouses in the area. At the southern edge of the fortress, a real tannery was born, being the most sought after place for those who wanted to buy sheepskin. The stream that crossed the area took the name of the Tăbăcarilor stream, and the slum became Ungureni, after the groups of Transylvanian shepherds who came down here with their flocks. The names of the Ungureni church and the cemetery next to it have a common history, there are unwritten arguments that link them to the identity of a shepherd who stopped here with his flocks. According to a local legend, the Transylvanian shepherd (Ungureanul, as he was known by the locals) stopped with his flocks at the edge of the fortress. He was the first of the shepherds to settle in this area. Feeling the need for a place where his knees could bow for prayer, Ungureanul shepherd would have built here, at his own expense, a beautiful wooden church, the inscription clearly showing this: “Because of foreign bondage, the shepherd fled on roads known only to him, he arrived here and as a gratitude he built this church from the ground up. "The new foundation was dedicated to" Saint Nicholas ", but according to legend, everyone knows it as Ungureni, "of the Ungurean" or "of the Ungurel". "St. Nicholas" Church is a relatively large building, taking into account the period in which it was built: 20.85 m long by 11.88 m wide next to the narthex. The ship-type building, without apses, but with an addition that houses an interior staircase that provides access to the former bell tower, is typically divided into an Orthodox church, with an open porch, narthex, nave and altar. The rectangular porch has to the west an arch with five beams with arches in the center, supported on six masonry brick columns full dating back long ago. On the northern and southern sides it has a bay, with a column engaged in masonry. The vault is made with two domes supported by a median arch and two "port-a-faux" side arches. The rectangular narthex, arranged transversely to the church, has internal dimensions of 6.42 x 4.27 m and a maximum free height of 7.20 m in key, the vault being a dome supported by four "port-a-faux" arches equal two by two. The bell tower above the narthex has a square plan, being provided on all four sides with large gaps closed with "abat-son" carpentry. The nave, having the shape of a central square, has two windows to the north and south and is covered with a generous dome supported by four wide arches, of small proportions, marked in plan by four masonry legs attached to the walls. The elliptical altar inside is vaulted with an elliptical semi-dome, with a maximum turnkey height of 6.90 m. In the axis of the church is located the window hollow, and to the south there is an access door. The interior painting of the church is a fresco mural, made in 1864, executed by painters from the post-Brancoveanu era, the last intervention being that of 1984, when the tempera works from 1948-1950 were removed. The painting style is an astonished style: ascetic figures in very dark colors.   During 2018-2021, works were carried out to consolidate the historical monument, restoration and conservation works of architectural elements and interior mural painting, equipping / restoring the installations, as well as exterior works for the enhancement of the monument consisting of land systematization, landscaping alleys, green spaces and architectural lighting. The project "Consolidation, restoration and enhancement of the church" Saint Nicholas "- Ungureni", SMIS code: 119853, made it possible to render to the general public an objective of cultural heritage, namely the Church "St. Nicholas" - Ungureni, restored, preserved and properly arranged in order to perform adequate functions, compatible with the status of historical monument, so that it can fulfil its cultural, social and educational mission.

The Church of the Holy Apostles is an architectural and religious monument of great value in Craiova, located near the central area, at 1, St. Apostles street. The church, which is dedicated to Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29), is one of the oldest in the city, built in the XVth century - the beginning of the XVIth century and later restored. The current appearance, in a unique architectural style, dates back from the middle of the XIXth century. According to the architectural plan, the exterior decoration, the apparent brick system, the size of the church, but also the documentary evidence, the construction of the Church of the Holy Apostles dates back around the XVth-XVIth centuries. Thus, in a donation document belonging to Matei Basarab this church is mentioned in 1635, when a donation of 80 gold coins was made in order to repair the church, which means that it had, at that time, a considerable age. Moreover, the current inscription indicates 1784 as the year the church was erected, but the text is written over another one in a Cyrillic-Latin mixed alphabet, indicating that the church is much older. At the time of its construction, the church was surrounded by solid fencing walls and was located on the outskirts of the city. It was rebuilt in brick between 1781 and 1784 by Father Hristea, the archimandrite Antim and Matei Brânzan, assisted by the boyars and merchants in the area, especially by the guild of shoemakers. The "Church of Father Hristea" was built in the shape of a cross, with two open towers, an open porch supported on stone columns and two stone pillars in the interior, between the nave and the narthex, with one meter thick walls, made of narrow brick. On February 5th, 1784, Father Hristea consecrated the Church of the Holy Apostles to the Bishopric of Ramnicu and was ordained, taking the name of Hariton the Hieromonk, to serve the holy altar. In 1791, Father Hristea donated all his wealth to the church, including his land properties. Matei Brânzan, who appears in the donation document next to Father Hristea, is among the oldest known shoemakers in Craiova, a guildmaster who contributed to the painting of the church. The church was severely damaged by the earthquakes that hit Craiova in the XIXth century, especially those of October 1802 and January 1838, when the steeples and the vaults fell, and the porch collapsed. The repair involved replacing the two brick steeples with one made of wood. The condition of the church worsened once again and new repairs were needed. In 1855, during the reign of Barbu Știrbei and with the help of Saint Calinic, Bishop of Râmnic and Severin, the shoemaker guild, led by the guildmaster Petcu, constructed the bell tower using brick, closed the porch and repaired the church, except the towers and the interior vaults, and erected a wooden tower covered with tin over the narthex. The original painting, in fresco, was executed in 1788 by Popa Gheorghe - painter, using as a model the older fresco of the church, of which some samples can still be seen today in the narthex. In 1855, the church was covered with a layer of lime on which a new oil painting was made by the painter Costache Petrescu from Craiova (the one who also painted in Craiova the Mantuleasa Church and the Church of St. Ioan-Hera). In 1883 and 1903, the painting was washed and partially restored. Between 1987-1994, among other works at the Church of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul, the restoration of the original painting was completed with the new painting, in the areas where it was missing. The painting was entirely restored by the painter Dan Neamu - contract holder and coordinator, (he also restored the painting of the churches of Saint Gheorghe cel Nou, Mantuleasa, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Dumitru), along with the painter Teodora Ianculescu Spătaru ( who restored the painting in the altar), Prof. Dumitru Budică (who polished the iconostasis), painter Adrian Bănica (who painted the tower in the narthex and the porch, under the coordination of the painter Dan Neamu). Source: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/biserica-sf-apostoli-craiova/

”The Archangel Saints” is one of the oldest churches in Oltenia. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century by the Radu, Stroe and Preda Buzescu brothers, captains in the army of Michael the Brave. Over time, the earthquakes left their mark on the building. The last major restoration work was made at the beginning of the last century at the expense of Gogu and Polina Vorvoreanu, whose residence was nearby. As a sign of gratitude, during the meeting of the Eparchial Council of Craiova Archdiocese, Metropolitan Nifon Criveanu established that the holy place should be named "The Church Gogu and Polina Vorvoreanu". Religious objects of an inestimable value can be found in the patrimony of this worship place. This include a beautiful collection of old, painted in oil and silver locked icons. A beautiful shrine was built in the church’s courtyard to honour the memory of those who suffered in the communist camps and prisons for the Orthodox faith. Text source: ziarullumina.ro

TThe Parish of St. Nicholas Church - Amaradia, with St. Nicholas and the Transfiguration as patron saints, was named in the past St. Nicholas - Belivaca, after the name of one of the founders. The name of St. Nicholas - Amaradia was given in 1950, after the name of the street and the neighborhood where the church is located. The church was established by Hristea Belivaca and Mihail Socolescu in 1794, on the location of an old church. The consolidation works carried out between 2010-2012 confirmed the fact that the present church stands on the foundations of another older one, having the same layout. It is highly possible that the previous church was seriously damaged during the March 26 / April 6, 1790 earthquake which might have ruined it. This is the reason why Belivaca and Socolescu had the initiative of restoring it and its nearby cells. Hristea Belivaca was a famous local merchant at the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century, who traded cows, leather and cattle suet (1). He was born in Motoci village and was the brother of monk Clement, the abbot of Motru Monastery. Between 2010-2012, by Father Bonea Florin’s diligence, the entire historical monument has undergone an extensive restoration process, based on a project drawn up by architect Iulian Cămui. From an architectural point of view, the Belivaca Church keeps unaltered the post-brâncovenian style of the old churches of Oltenia and Wallachia, with a triconic plan, a porch opened on arches and brick columns. It is the first two open towers church in Oltenia. The original fresco painting dates back in 1794, being of remarkable historical and artistic value. From the artistic point of view, this painting includes, according to the Byzantine representations, the specific features of the post-brâncovean's painting, as well as the local traditions of the Oltenian painting school from the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century, with bright colors, rich floral elements, embossed aureole and gold-plated garments. It is among the few post-Byzantine paintings that can be found today in the churches - a monument from Craiova and the oldest fresco preserved entirely in a church in this city. The list with the name of the painters is painted on the wall, at the Prothesis: Marcu and Tudor. The pargets on the frontispiece, representing the Archangels Saints Michael and Gavriil as protectors of the entrance to the church (the earthly heaven), unique in an Orthodox church from this region, are of Baroque inspiration. Perhaps Belivaca, in his travelling as a merchant and carrier, had also visited the Catholic churches from Banat and Transylvania and wanted such unusual compositions for his establishment in the Traistari slum. Also important are the two outer nonreligious paintings on the southern facade of the church: an allegorical representation of death and an officer on a horseback. The impossibility of deciphering the original inscriptions and subsequent unfortunate interventions on the painting in which the officer is represented have left room for various theories, being subject to numerous historical documents and continuing to draw the attention of historians. Some scientists considered that the character was Tudor Vladimirescu himself, who was supposed to live for some time near the church, but others believe he is one of the church founders or donors. From the architectural point of view, St. Nicholas-Amaradia Church preserves the post-brâncovenian style of the old churches of Oltenia and Wallachia, with a triconic plan, a porch opened on arches and brick columns. It is the first two open towers church in Oltenia. Source: http://www.biserica-amaradia.ro

St Nicholas Church - The church with exterior paintings The church with the original patronage "Saints Nicholas and Basil" (Sfinţii Nicolae şi Vasile) was erected in 1816. Dating back in the same year, the painting of the building has the facades fully painted with characters and various scenes. The old exterior painting, contemporary to the inscription "1816 July 16", visible above the entrance to the church, is preserved to a large extent (on the porch facade and on some portions of the southern and northern facades); the painting inside the porch, dating back to 1816, is also relatively well preserved. At the end of 2008, the preservation of the exterior painting of the church was in a degraded condition, and the church in a partially deteriorated conservation condition. Source: http://cimec.ro/Monumente/LacaseCultPictExt/RO/Documente/ASP/detaliu.asp?k=18847-1

Saint Spiridon Church is located on a small hill in the heart of Craiova, not far from the National Theatre and the University. It was built in 1758 by the Vlădăieni boyars, during the reign of Constantin Nicolae Mavrocordat and of the bishop of Râmnic, Grigorie Socoteanu. In the middle of the XVIIIth century, the settlements of the Vlădăieni boyars were located in Craiova, on the hill between the Orbeţilor Valley (today Stefan cel Mare street) and the Opincă Valley (today Calea Bucureşti). Boyar Fota Vlădăianu erected, in 1758, the church of Saint Spiridon (also called the Vlădăianu Church), on the same spot where it was an older one made of twigs that was built by captain Tudor Berindei. Large houses were erected around the church, endowed with estates and worship objects, so that it started to resemble a monastery. This is the reason why, in the History of Dacia, Dionisie Fotino mentions it among the monasteries of Craiova. In 1837, the Vlădăianu monastery retained this title along with the Obedeanu and the Gănescu monasteries. Saint Spiridon Church is the first boyar church of the second half of the XVIIIth century that kept its old inscription above the entrance door in 1758. In a register from 1813-1815, were listed the Poenari boyars and founders who were related to Vlădăieni family. In 1771, Fota Vlădăianu was part of the boyars council in Craiova and Dolj county, and starting with July 1775, he was part of the vicegerent`s council. He died in 1778 and the inscription on his tombstone is still visible despite the passing of time. In 1826, a fountain was built in the church yard, and after the earthquake in 1838, several repairs took place, but they did not change its design. In 1843 it was surrounded with a brick wall. In 1861 a wooden bell tower was built in the church yard, which will be restored in 1925. Major repairs from the mid- XXth century included "elements of foreign composition, which changed the Byzantine character of many churches." Inside, the floor and the stairs were repaired and the base was painted. Between 1924 and 1925, at the "Saint Spiridon" Church, major repairs took place: it was painted again and the porch was opened, in order to reveal the beautiful stone pillars surrounding it. Also during this period, the church was repainted by the great painter from Craiova, Ion Listeveanu. Today we can admire the architecture of the open porch, the ornaments and the blind windows on the exterior side walls, the ventilation rosettes decorated with the Byzantine eagle.

Located in the central area of Craiova, the All Saints Church - Hagi Enuş is a special architectural complex consisting of the church itself dedicated to all saints and the bell tower which is one of the oldest in the city. The construction of the church dates back to 1792-1800, according to the Slavonic votive inscription on the stone located on the porch, inscription also rendered on a panel in front of the church: "With the help of the holy and life giving Troiți, this holy Church named the Outside Fair, where All Saints and the Great Martyr Pantelimon are celebrated, is built by Master Dumitrache Sandulache, Master Ion Băcanu, Master Mihai Cojocariu, Master Ion Sapunariu, helped by other foreign masters and merchants, who will be forever remembered, embellishing with painting on the outside as well as on the inside as it can be seen, in the days of enlightened Lord Mihai Constandin Şuţu Voivod and with the blessing of His Holiness Chiriu Chir Filaret, in the days of His Holy Father Bishop Nectarius, leatom .3 .. [broken]. " The text: "helped by priest Vladu and Master Matei Giurca", and the name "Tănasie" are written below the panel’s frame. Although the historical information written on the votive inscription established that the year 7301 since the creation of the world was the date when the church was built, namely autumn of 1792, a fragment of a wall on the south side of the church marks an older foundation. Thus, the church is considered to be more than 220 years old, additional information being provided by the chronicler Dionisie Eclesiarhul who claimed that the church was built in 1758, initially being a monastery dedicated to All Saints, served by the hieromonks Varlaam and Rafail. Regarding the votive inscription kept inside the church, numerous sources point out a certain Nicolae Ceausoiu or Ceausescu as founder. It is known that he had an adopted son, Nicola (e), brother or relative of Hagi Enuș Costa Petru (Hagi Enuș, Hagi Enuși, Hagi Ienuși, Ene Nanu, or Nanu Costa Petru), who later would take care of the church and name it. The reasons why this information was omitted from the courtyard information panel are not yet known but it is presumed it is based on the rejection of any possible connection with the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. In the eighteenth century, the locals knew the church was dedicated to All Saints as the old monastery was before it, a name that was preserved until 1782. Documents from the beginning of the nineteenth century, mention "The Church from the Outside Fair, dedicated to all the Saints, made by the merchants from the slums", built at the end of the previous century. Thus, alongside with the establishment of the so-called Outside Fair in Craiova’s suburbs, the church also took its name. It is noted that the main founder of the new church, Nicolae Ceausescu, would have had an adopted son, Nicola (e), son of the Costa Petru, a greek merchant and brother of Hagi Enuş. After Ceausescu’s death, Hagi Enuş helped his brother in the epitropy of the church. This explains the change of the church's name from the Outside Fair, then old the Outside Fair (caused by the relocation of the fair) into the Old Hagiu Fair, the Hagiu Church and later the Hagi Enuş Church. Officially, the name change occurred on July 29th, 1859 when, within the official letter no. 1285 of the Municipal Council of Craiova, the church is called for the first time Hagi Enuş church. Hagi Enuş was a rich merchant from Craiova and one of the churchwardens of the Madonna Dudu church (at that time Holy Mother from Dudu) and All Saints church, but also guardian of the house of Landlady Smaranda Brăiloiu. Hagi Enuş was also involved in the Revolution of 1821, lending money to Tudor Vladimirescu for weapons expenses. This support, however, was not unselfish, Hagi Enuş aiming to gain favour with the revolutionary hero. But Vladimirescu understood the tricks of the agile merchant, and accused him in one of the articles of the "Demands of the Romanian people" of plundering the country by robbery, sentencing him to expulsion from the country. The decision could not be implemented due to the tragic end of the Revolution leader. Later, Hagi Enuş falls into the people’s disgrace and is obliged to dispose the titles of churchwarden and guardian (April 1824). In the documents issued after 1824, only the "house of the late Hagi Enuş" will be mentioned. Throughout the 19th century, the church registered numerous damages, the repairs affecting its original appearance. During 1826-1829, works for repairing and painting of the ceiling, the splinter of the church and the repair of the bell-tower (rebuilt with brick from the church) were carried out. On this occasion, the old bell received during the Serbian riot in 1814 from the parish council of the "Archangels Michael and Gavriil" Church in Belgrad was moved to the bell tower. The "great earthquake" of 1838 also affects the structure and the resistance of the church, damaging the altar, the pulpit and the plaster, which leads to a new fresco painting of the edifice. The church undergoes a new repair process in 1839 and a general renovation and painting between 1855-1856 (founders Hristea Stancovici and Sterie Ioanu). In 1895, a new oil painting was added, while the outer painting was deleted and not restored, and covered with metal-sheet. Over time, the outside of the church became white-gray colored, leading to the name of Grey Church for the place. sources: http://www.monumenteoltenia.ro/ansamblul-bisericii-toti-sfintii-hagi-enus-craiova/ https://www.facebook.com/MonumenteOltenia/photos/a.363079720500624/638246172983976/?type=3&theater

"St. Dumitru" Cathedral in Craiova is one of the city's largest churches. It was built with the support of the Craioveşti nobil family and was founded in 1652 by Matei Basarab. But time and people brought alterations to the church: - Constantin Brancoveanu rebuilds the window frames in Brancoven style; - Constantin Obedeanu restores it in 1723 - the Argetoieni nobility restores it in 1774. The church deteriorated following 1840’s earthquake, and then closed until 1889, when restoration works began under the leadership of architect Andre Lecomte de Nouy, who built the current building from the ground up, without respecting the old style. The painting was made in three stages by the French painters Emil Menpiot and Bories, being completed in 1933. Currently, the Cathedral shelters the relics of Hierarch Saint Nifon, patriarch of Constantinople. The church-goers can also pray at the relics of Saints Serghie and Vah, as well as at the relics of the Holy Martyr Tatiana. According to documentary testimonies, "Sf. Dumitru" cathedral in Craiova is considerable old, dating before 1645, being identified at that time as the" Royal Church of Craiova". In 1651, by the order of Prince Matei Basarab, the church undergoes a reconstruction process. Its entire structure has been drastically altered, the initial appearance being modified. Starting with 1849 till 1889, the church will be closed, the weather conditions putting their mark on its appearance. That is the reason why, between 1889-1893, King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth demanded its reconstruction, observing the plans of the architect Andre Lecomte de Nouy. The church, built in 1893 by the royal family, was named cathedral only in 1939. sources: https://locuridinromania.ro/judetul-dolj/orasul-craiova/catedrala-sfantul-dumitru.html https://www.biserici.org/index.php?menu=BI&code=157 https://www.facebook.com/pg/catedralasfdumitru/photos/?ref=page_internal

Titular Saint: The Entry of Virgin Mary into the Church The monastic settlement from Cârcea, dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great and to the feast in the honour of The Entry of Virgin Mary into the Church, is located about ten kilometers from the town of Craiova. The foundation stone was laid in 1957, but the place was consecrated only in 1992 by Metropolitan Bishop of Oltenia Nestor Vornicescu. Today it functions as a monastery for nuns, the community being led by the nun Eleonora Cristofir. The history of the place says that here, centuries ago, it was a monastic settlement for monks. There is also a large stone cross, with Cyrillic inscriptions, not far from the entrance to the present church. Source: Surse: http://www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro/?page_id=23540 https://www.infopensiuni.ro/cazare-craiova/obiective-turistice-craiova/manastirea-carcea_2397 https://www.biserici.org/index.php?menu=BI&code=2768

The Coşuna Monastery is located in Craiova and is one of the most important buildings, visited by hundreds of tourists daily. The Coşuna Monastery is the oldest worship building in Craiova, that the authorities managed to conserve quite well. Only the church was preserved, the surrounding buildings of the monastery were completely destroyed by fires, earthquakes and floods. Building the monastery required using resilient materials, such as stone and brick. Combining the Byzantine elements and the traditional Romanian ones creates a totally unique architecture, that draws the admiration of the visitors. The Cosuna monastery was built on December 3, 1572, according to a documentary attestation. Another documentary attestation is that it was built in 1483. Cosuna Monastery - Bucovatul Vechi (Old Bucovat) was erected in 1483, and the church was built between 1506-1512. The current church dates back to 1572, from the time of the reign of Prince Alexandru II Mircea, when the boyar Stefan and his son, Parvu, built it under the patronage of Saint Hierarch Nicholas. The initial name of the monastery is "Coşuna", as it appears in a document belonging to Eftimie, the metropolitan bishop of Wallachia (January 1574) and in a document of voivode Michael the Brave (February 1574). This name comes either from the Slavic word meaning "grassland," or from a Latin word meaning "fable", or from the fact that here used to descend people from the mountains, who made traditional woven baskets. Source: https://locuridinromania.ro/judetul-dolj/orasul-craiova/manastirea-cosuna.html https://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/manastirea-cosuna-bucovatul-vechi-137007.html

The Jitianu Orthodox Monastery is located in the village of Braniste, in Dolj county, and it is dedicated to the "Great Martyr Dimitrie" and the "Saint Prophet Ilie (Elijah)". Short history: In the XIV th century, a wooden church was erected by Mircea the Old, after the victory at Rovine, but it was first mentioned in documents in the XV th century. The church was built in the shape of a cross with a single cylindrical dome. The church's bell tower (on the west side) is a new massive construction (probably from the late XVIII th century, in Brancovenesc style). The church was restored in the years 1717, 1852, 1910, 1926 and 1958. At present, there is a valuable collection of icons made on wood and on glass. At the entrance to the courtyard of the monastery, next to the plum orchard, is a mulberry tree plantation belonging to Cuza, protected and declared historical monument. In 1877, during the Independence War, the church of the monastery served as a shell base, and the cells were used as a hospital for the Roman soldiers wounded in battle. Several Roman soldiers were buried in the courtyard of the monastery, as one can observe by the crosses placed behind the church. After the war, the monastery was listed on the historical monuments list. The Jitianu Monastery, is one of the oldest historical monuments in the Oltenia area, which survived over the centuries. The great church with its square tower is situated in the plain that surrounds Craiova, north of the road that leads to Calafat, surrounded by the orchards of the monastery on the outskirts of the village Branişte, in the commune of Podari. According to the historical sources, this settlement is identified as the marshland area, where the famous battle of Rovine was given, when the great ruler Mircea the Old (1394) emerged victorious against the Turks led by sultan Baiazid, called the Lightning. This fact has been described by the historians, although there are no written testimonies to document it, or at least they have not been found yet. "The Holy Jitianu Monastery, a great construction, which for almost four hundred years guarded the gates of this city as a holy witness to the faith and patriotism of the boyars and voivodes of our nation "(Nicolae Iorga) The Jitianu Monastery performed a double role on those historical precarious past times. The first is to keep lit the torch of the ancestral faith in the weary souls of the Romanians under the heavy burden of Ottoman slavery, while the second is to guard against predators, given the strategic position of this settlement. The Jitianu Monastery was built on the site of this small wooden church at the end of the XV th century and the beginning of the XVI th century by the efforts of the Craioveşti boyars in order to complete the fortification area around the fortress of Bania and to stop the Turkish raids which often touched these areas. "On the alleged place of a legendary wooden church of Mircea the Old - victorious in Rovine, in 1394 - at the Jitianu Monastery, erected by Mrs. Bălăşa, the wife of Constantin Serban Cârnul (1654-1657), that Constantin Brâncoveanu endowed with a tower according to the genre and the strategic purpose, on the road to Calafat and Vidin. "(Patriarch Macarie of Antioch visiting these lands in 1653.) The name of the Monastery seems to have been given by the founders in the honor of the one who owned the ground on which the church itself was built, the steward Jitianu who worked in the service of Lord Neagoe Basarab between 8 May 1514-14 July 1521. Due to the humid environment where the monastery was located, the church and the entire monastery complex will undergo a succession of renovations over the centuries; but still, towards the end of the XVIII th century, the church deteriorated and, especially given the situation of those hard times, it became a ruin and it was abandoned. Along with the end of the war, the condition of the monastery was getting worse. The opportunity of rehabilitation comes along with the passing of Queen Elena on her way to one of the royal domains in Segarcea. The railway is 1 km away from the monastery, and Queen Elena remained impressed at her sight. Accompanied by the famous historian and politician Nicolae Iorga (Chairman of the Commission for Historical Monuments), at her request, he told her in detail the history of the monastery. On her way back, travelling by car, she visited this place and decided, as a priority, to renovate the monastery. Forgotten by times and by people, the place was almost completely destroyed, and the birds of the sky were the only beings who lived here. Without a roof, the painting was mostly degraded due to rain and snow and the interior was seriously damaged, requiring an urgent restoration. The renovation work lasted a few years in order to give back this holy place its splendor, but the renovation was limited mostly to the church and not to the entire monastery. At that time, Titus Locuşteanu was the priest of the village, and his father, who was also a priest, took part in the renovation works, initially being the parish priest of this church. In 1932, the church officially reopened to receive the faithful. After decades of suffering, oblivion and ruin, the Jitianu Monastery becomes a new monastery complex. The last renovation work began in 2010, under the direct guidance of the metropolitan bishop of OItenia, Father Irineu, and during the current monastic community made of eight monks, led by Nifon Văcăruş, the abbot of the Holy Monastery. Source: https://locuridinromania.ro/judetul-dolj/comuna-podari/manastirea-jitianu.html http://www.manastireajitianu.ro

The story of the monastery's construction is linked to an illiterate, deaf and poor shepherd called Petre Lupu, who supposedly had seen God in 1935, between Easter and Pentecost, and was asked to preach the love for faith. Thus, God gave him back his hearing and his speaking, his visions and healing making Maglavit a place of pilgrimage. The Maglavit Monastery, dedicated to the Life Giving Fountain, was demolished by the Communists and then restored in 1990, when the unfinished works before the war continued. Petrache Lupu is buried at Maglavit Monastery. After the Revolution of 1989, on 17th of August 1990, through the desire of the Christians, the Metropolitan Church of Oltenia re-establishes the monastery started in 1936. Archimandrite Policarp Sidor was entrusted as pastor of the church. There was no monastic life in the past in this region, but after Petrache Lupu’s events, some monks settled here, as well as a small community of nuns who settled on the banks of the Danube river. A monk began to serve here, "at the log", together with the abbot named Nicanor. At the same time, the construction of a large church was initiated in order to perpetuate the Maglavite's message and spread it among people. The large brick wall church was planned and designed on pillars to be protected from the Danube's waters. Currently, due to the pier construction, the water no longer threatens the church. The rise of the church began in 1936 and continued, but to a lesser extent, until 1940. After 1990, brick was laid at the basement and the ground floor, the place for the religious services being thus established. In 2010, the Maglavit Monastery which was a monastery for monks was transformed into monastery of nuns. In the summer of 1935, at Maglavit, a village near the Danube, God appeared to a shepherd named Petrache Lupu. Deaf from birth and also illiterate, he received the divine command to bring the vicious world on the right path and he suddenly began to speak and perform miracles. This is how one of the most famous religious phenomena in Romania was born, gathering hundreds of thousands of people from all the counties of the country, equally intellectuals, priests, politicians and peasants. The tale of Maglavit, in its picturesque way, was a miraculous, unexplained story which described, within Father Nicholas Bobin’s notebooks, the confessions of Petrache as well as the testimonies of other people who closely met the "Saint," the nickname of the shepherd used after his passing. The stories about Petrache Lupu and the place where God appeared to him are endless. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is to just go there. See the place in the forest, called "to the log", where the "Old man" appeared, or visit the willow tree with healing water pouring from it after He leaned on it, or visit the cross from the meadow, beside the four mulberry tree, where Petrache, an orphan and an illiterate shepherd, knew how to preach God’s word. It is impossible not to feel the power and the pressure of that vast place full of waterholes, located on the edge of a mulberry tree forest. If you stand still in the light-filled air, you will hear the Danube, the prayers from the past, woven into that endless flow of water. And a voice that goes before anyone else, easily recognizable: Petrache Lupu, the Man of God. sources: http://maglavit.info.ro/?page_id=58 https://manastireamaglavit.ro/ https://locuridinromania.ro/judetul-dolj/comuna-maglavit/manastirea-maglavit.html https://www.facebook.com/pages/Man%C4%83stirea-Maglavit/684108881781226

Sadova Monastery Short history: The monastery was founded by the Craiovesti boyars at the beginning of the XVI th century. The church is made of brick, with thick walls, and it was built in 1633 on a foundation of stone boulders, on the site of the old wooden church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The monastery was fortified by Matei Basarab in 1640, then by Preda Brancoveanu. Saint Constantin Brancoveanu erected the infirmary church, in 1693, under the patronage of The Entry of Virgin Mary into the Church. Nowadays, there are still visible some fragments of the original wall painting from 1792, restored in 1852 and 1903. The monastery is built under the patronage of "Saint Nicholas" and of "The Entry of Virgin Mary into the Church". Description: Located south of the city of Craiova, near a forest on the bank of the Jiu river, Saint Nicholas Monastery in Sadova was originally a construction of the Craioveşti boyars. They built around 1520 a wooden church, on the same spot where Matei Basarab raised a stone one between 1632-1633. The construction of the new settlement is related to a legend according to which Matei Basarab, who had allegedly fought against the Turks at Schela Ciobanului (Shepherd`s Scaffold), in the Bechet area, reached Sadova along with his armies. Losing in two rows, when he reaches the wooden church in Sadova, he prays to the icon of St. Nicholas, promising that, if he defeats in battle, he will raise a stone church. On August 26, 1632, he won the battle, he became ruler of the country and he began the construction itself. The Church of the Sadova Monastery was completely restored after 1900 and consecrated in 1904, in the presence of King Carol. According to the existing documents and taking into account the paintings in the monastery, it appears that it hosted at first monks, but in 1959 it was a nun monastery. But they were forced to leave the place, following the Decree 410, and the church was turned into an parish church. In 1992, the monastic life resumed, and the settlement was populated with nuns, but in 1994 it became once again a monastery for the monks, as it had originally been. The church is made of brick, with thick walls, erected on a foundation of stone boulders. It has wide closed porch. Between the nave and the narthex there are two thick lateral pillars separating the two rooms. They support the arcade on which the octagonal shaped steeple stands, covered with asbestos plates. The roof of the church is made of galvanized tin, and the floor is made of mosaic. The walls are pierced by large, double windows. In the interior, there are still conserved fragments of the original painting, cleaned in 1904. On the outside, a thick, twisted medial girdle divides the walls into two registers. Both of them are adorned with friezes with extremely elegant ornaments. Under the cornice there is a girdle in the shape of a saw, made of three rows of bricks. Resuming the monastic life also required repairs of the church and of the surrounding buildings, in order to give back to the place the discreet beauty of the past. Source: http://manastireasadova.blogspot.com/2012/03/manastirea-sadova.html https://locuridinromania.ro/judetul-dolj/comuna-sadova/manastirea-sadova.html

Titular saints: • The Pious Saint Calinic Cernicanul (April 11th) • The Pious Saint Parascheva (October 14th) • Saint Hierarch Nicholas (December 6th) Monks monastery founded in 1853 by St. Calinic Cernicanul, Bishop of Ramnic. Historical timeline: • 1678:The wooden church of Ioan Hamza • 1853: The current church, founded by St. Calinic Cernicanul • 1864-1992: It works as a parish church; • 1992: At the initiative of Nestor Vorniceanu, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan Bishop of Oltenia, a monastery is re-established here. Popânzălești Monastery is a Christian-Orthodox nun monastery, located about 25 kilometers southeast of Craiova, in the village with the same name, the commune of Drăgotești, in Dolj county. Popânzălești Monastery is mentioned in historical documents from 1678, when it was entrusted to the Bishopric of Ramnic, by the chancellor Hamza from Popânzălești, its founder. Towards the end of his life, chancellor Hamza became a monk, at the monstaery he built, receiving the name of Ioan. He had endowed the monastery with all the necessities of the monastic life, he included it in the hearth of the village, a fact reinforced by Saint Voivod Constantin Brâncoveanu in a document of 1695. Legend says that the chancellor was once an outlaw and confessing to a monk, he was advised to use the amounts stolen to build a worship place. In the year 1799, the Archimandrite Metodie rebuilts the wooden monastery from its foundation, on the site of the old church, and dedicates it to Saint Gregory Decapolitul and Gregory the Merciful. In 1852, the two titular saints of the monastery were painted in the same icon, at the request of Saint Calinic of Cernica, who was already a bishop at that time, by the monks and painters Constantin and Florea, from the Frasina Monastery. During the reign of Barbu Știrbei (1849-1853; 1854-1856) extensive restoration work begins, as the whole ensemble was damaged by the earthquake of 1838. In 1850, after Saint Calinic from Cernica became Bishop of Ramnic, the works continued successfully. Attracted to the tranquility of the place, the new bishop himself builds the new monastery, which will be ready in less than two years. Saint Calinic gave the monastery an icon picturing Virgin Mary and a golden necklace. The new church, dedicated to Saint Hierarch Nicholas, was consecrated on July 15, 1853. In 1864, after the secularization of the monastery assets, at the command of the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the monks moved to other monasteries, and the monastery church was transformed into a parish church. On June 8, 1992, after the re-establishment of the Popanzalesti Monastery, at the proposal of Nestor Vornicescu, the archbishop of Craiova and the metropolitan bishop of Oltenia, the monastery added another titular saint: Saint Pious Parascheva. The church is built of brick, in the form of a cross, and has one meter thick walls. The tower of the church, located above the narthex, has no opening inwards. The painting, in a neo-Byzantine style, was executed in tempera. The monastery was led, since the re-establishment and until the autumn of 2013 (September), by the Protosyncellus Fanurie Chiriță, the abbot of this settlement. From the moment it became a monastery of nuns and until now the monastery is led by the nun Steliana Mațea, the current abbess. Since the fall of 2015, the monastery church has entered an extensive restoration process, the services officiating in a small chapel, arranged in the old dining room of the monastery. Source: https://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/manastirea-popanzalesti-sfantul-calinic-la-cernica-141182.html http://www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro/?page_id=23554 https://www.biserici.org/index.php?menu=CU&code=2776&criteria=MANASTIR&quick=&radio=b&order=TOWN

Titular saints: - Saint George the Great Martyr (April 23th) - Saint Evangelist Apostle Ioan (May 8th) - The veil of Virgin Mary- (October 1st) - Saint Hierarch Nicholas (December 6th) History: On this settlement, at the end of the XVIth century were located the vineyards of Michael the Brave. In the interwar period, the 8 hectares of vineyard belonged to the Potârcă family, the owner of a chain of restaurants in Craiova. 1950: The Potârcă family donates a part of the vineyards to the Church, and he sells the other part 1952: Metropolitan bishop Firmilian builds a small church, a bell tower, and a complex of buildings featuring a kitchen and two cells. The settlement functioned as a metropolitan chapel, with services taking place only during the period when the metropolitan was present, and on holidays in the rest of the time. 2005 Teofan, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan Bishop of Oltenia gave his blessing for the establishment of a monastery in this place. The small church was rebuilt and they started to build also a larger church with a complex of outbuildings. Saint George the Great Martyr Monastery, former Orthodox monastery for monks (Hieromonk Grigorie Sandu), became a monastery for nuns, starting with October 1st 2010, with the blessing of Irineu Popa, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan Bishop of Oltenia. Built on the vineyards of the Bishopric of Oltenia, it is also called the "The Vine Monastery ". It is also known as the "Airplanes Monastery", because it is located on the ring road that opens to the right at the entrance to Craiova on the Balş-Craiova route, a road that passes near the Craiova Airplane Factory. Source: http://msfgh.xhost.ro/index.htm http://www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro/?page_id=23560

"Sunday of All Saints" Church The All Saints Monastery is the oratory of the Metropolitan Church of Craiova. The wooden church was built by the monk Daniil from the Tismana Monastery, in 1784, as the church of his native village, Talpasesti, Gorj county. The small church had a troubled history that involved theft and rebuilding. At the end of 1821, it was robbed by the Turkish armies who came here to stifle the revolution of Tudor Vladimirescu. Several objects of worship have been stolen. In the autumn of the following year, the church will be restored by the locals and the restorers Ciaus Matei Corneanu and Constantine Chilea. In 1860, the "All Saints" Church in Tălpăşeşti village underwent important transformations, being totally restored by the master painter "Dimitrie ot Corneşti", known in the area for having renovated several worship places. Thus, the church changed its roof, as well as the interior and the exterior painting that was restored using tempera paint. Since 1894, the locals' interest in the small wooden church has declined since in the village began the construction of a new church made of stone, open in 1905. Starting with this year, the wooden church was abandoned, and in time it degraded. As a solution to this problem, the Archdiocese of Craiova decided to relocate the church from Tălpăşeşti, Gorj county, to Craiova, in the courtyard of the Archdiocese. The resettlement work was coordinated by the patriarch Teoctist who had hardly obtained the approvals of the local authorities for this action. In 1975, the church was brought to the Archidiocese's courtyard, and in 1976 the reassembly works were completed. The wooden elements were replaced with the help of the specialists, the students of the Theological Seminary of Craiova and the wood craftsmen from the village of Tălpăşeşti, the Archdiocese staff, etc. It became a metropolitan oratory once the reassembly and the consolidation works were completed in 1976. The space is unique by the painted and carved decoration. It is embellished by an impressive picture on a green-blue background, the representations of the saints being particularly expressive. In time, the heritage of the "All Saints" oratory expanded with over 100 icons made by famous painters such as Ion Manta, Constantin Zugravul, Matei Zugravul, or Chirita Zugravul. In the interior of the church is the painting bearing the seal of the priest "Dimitrie ot Corneşti Zugravu 1860, April 9". Sources: http://www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro/?page_id=23534 https://www.crestinortodox.ro/manastiri/manastirea-tuturor-sfintilor-paraclis-mitropolitan-117939.html

The Coral Temple The Jewish Community of Craiova, community with Mosaic religion members. The Coral Temple, built in 1832 (rebuilt in 1887), still exists today. sources: http://comunitateaevreilorcraiova.simplesite.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012526562445