It is the town's princely church and is considered the first church in Wallachia with a two-storey porch on brick pillars.
About the place
The founding inscription says the church was finished on 13 May 1656, under Prince Constantin Șerban (1654–1658), and names Princess Bălașa. It has a trefoil plan, one tower over the nave and two smaller ones over the narthex, and the two-storey porch has arches on octagonal masonry pillars. The Princely School worked next to it from 1753 to 1864, and in 1862 the town council ruled that it was the town's cathedral.
The fire of 18 August 1848 destroyed its shingle roof, and when it was rebuilt the two small towers were replaced by a single tall one. In the 1960s the church was put on a demolition list; it was saved and restored in 1966–1968 to its original plan. The nave paintings were made in 1876 by Gheorghe Stoenescu, a pupil of Gheorghe Tattarescu, and the iconostasis is carved cherry wood.
Good to know
- The church is open daily from 7:00 to 20:00; a service is held in the morning between 8:30 and 11:00, so enter quietly.
- From here walk along Strada Victoriei, the pedestrian street, to the Town Hall and the Art Gallery.
- The feast day is St George's, in April, when many worshippers come.
Opening hours
| Monday | 7–20 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7–20 |
| Wednesday | 7–20 |
| Thursday | 7–20 |
| Friday | 7–20 |
| Saturday | 7–20 |
| Sunday | 7–20 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.