Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral, Cluj-Napoca
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral Catedrala Adormirea Maicii Domnului |
|
 |
|
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Cluj-Napoca,  Romania |
| Religious affiliation | Eastern Orthodox |
| District | Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crişana and Maramureş |
| Ecclesiastical status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Bartolomeu Anania |
| Website | [1] |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect/s | George Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu |
| Architectual style | Romanian style Byzantine architecture |
| Year completed | 1933 |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 64 m |
| Dome/s | Eight |
| Materials | stone |
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral (Romanian: Catedrala Adormirea Maicii Domnului) is the most famous Eastern Orthodox church of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Built in a Romanian Brâncovenesc style, a synthesis of Renaissance and Byzantine architecture, it lies on the Avram Iancu Square, together with the Cluj-Napoca National Theatre and the Avram Iancu Statue.
The Cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crişana and Maramureş. It is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (Romanian: Adormirea Maicii Domnului).
[edit] History
The cathedral was built between 1923 and 1933, after the Union of Transylvania with the Romanian Old Kingdom. Nicolae Ivan (1855-1936), at the time Bishop of Cluj, had a very important contribution in suggesting the location of the cathedral and in obtaining the necessary funds for its construction, which began on 10 September 1923.
The project of the cathedral was developed by the architects George Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu, who also designed the Mărăşeşti mausoleum.
On 5 November 1933 the Cathedral was officially opened by Miron Cristea, the Patriarch of All Romania, Nicolae Bălan, the Metropolitan of Transylvania and Nicolae Ivan, the Bishop of Cluj. The opening ceremony was also attended, among many others, by King Carol II and Crown Prince Michael I.
[edit] Decoration
The main dome of the Cathedral, inspired by the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, is surrounded by 4 Romanian Brâncovenesc style towers. The 18 large columns supporting the dome are sculpted in stone. The main material used for the construction of the Cathedral was stone extracted from Baciu and Bompotoc.
The interior murals were painted between 1928 and 1933 by artists Anastasie Demian and Catul Bogdan, both professors at the local Art Academy.
Avram Iancu Statue | Banffy Palace | Bob Church | Botanical Garden | Calvaria Church | Capitoline Wolf Statue | Evangelical Church | Greek-Catholic Cathedral | Hungarian Opera | Matthias Corvinus House | Matthias Corvinus Statue | Michael the Brave Statue | National Theatre | Orthodox Cathedral | Reformed Synagogue | Romanian Opera | St. Michael's Church | Tailors' Tower
 This article about a church or other Christian place of worship is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
