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Dichiu–Tirchilești Church

Churches completed in 1773Historic monuments in BucharestRomanian Orthodox churches in Bucharest
Bis Dichiu 54
Bis Dichiu 54

The Dichiu–Tirchilești Church (Romanian: Biserica Dichiu–Tirchilești) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 72 Icoanei Street in Bucharest, Romania. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The church existed by 1773, but lacks a pisanie or other inscriptions attesting its precise origins. Its name comes from two sources: Deoghen, traditionally considered the ktetor, was dichiu or oikonomos of the Metropolis of Ungro-Wallachia; while he was assisted by a certain Tirchilă. For some years, the surrounding area was a village called Tirchilești, incorporated into Bucharest by 1789. Local tradition holds that the church initially served a skete of monks, which ceased to exist when the city extended its boundaries, transforming the building into a parish church. In 1880, it was extended and a wooden dome added. Repairs took place in 1898 and 1903. The interior was painted in fresco in 1949–1953, while exterior repainting was carried out in 1955.The church measures 22 meters long by 6–10 meters wide, and is situated on an elevation. It is cross-shaped, with polygonal exterior apses, an octagonal dome above the nave and, above the narthex, a square bell tower. The latter is topped by a cross sitting on a small roof lantern supported by four slender columns. Interior columns were demolished, while the formerly open portico is entirely closed by masonry, ending in a flat facade with two small pylons at the ends. The exterior was frequently modified as well: the string course does not survive, and the sides feature arches in the lower part, medallions in the upper. The entrance is flanked by icons of Saints Peter and Paul. Two rows of seven saints each, with floral decorations, sit above the entrance, as does the patron saint's icon.The church owns a restored Gospel Book and relics of Saints Paraskeva of the Balkans, Stephen, John the New of Suceava and the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, all displayed in a silver hand. It is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Dichiu–Tirchilești Church (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Dichiu–Tirchilești Church
Strada Icoanei, Bucharest Cartierul Armenesc (Sector 2)

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N 44.4476 ° E 26.1106 °
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Biserica Ortodoxă „Dichiu”

Strada Icoanei 73
020454 Bucharest, Cartierul Armenesc (Sector 2)
Romania
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Bis Dichiu 54
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Popa Chițu Church
Popa Chițu Church

The Popa Chițu Church (Romanian: Biserica Popa Chițu) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 33 Logofătul Luca Stroici Street in Bucharest, Romania. It is dedicated to Saint Spyridon. The first church in the vicinity was attested as of 1789–1791. Surrounded by a graveyard and called Popa Petre after a certain priest, it was severely damaged by the 1802 earthquake, although the ruins were left in place until late in the century. A monument on the site of its altar dates to the 1980s. The current church was built in 1813 by two priests, their wives and the shoemakers’ guild. Initially having a single dome and a shingle roof, it was called either after Popa Petre or Popa Chițu, another priest. Dedicated to Saint Spyridon in 1831, it was damaged by the 1838 quake, which cracked the walls but left the ceiling largely intact.Repairs took place in 1878–1880, when a second dome was added above the narthex, a tin roof was built and the interior was painted. In 1932–1937, while the walls were repaired, Iosif Keber painted frescoes. The mosaic floor, concrete iconostasis with gilt stucco, stained glass and marble panel in the narthex date to that time. The ktetors of this phase are painted on the narthex wall and buried beneath its floor. A thorough restoration of 1975-1980 eliminated mildew, while Keber restored the painting and the exterior was fitted with a row of 91 glass-covered niches painted with saints. The church was re-sanctified in 1980; further upgrades took place in 2001–2003.Situated on a traffic island, the cross-shaped church measures 23.5 meters long by 7.5-11.3 meters wide. It has circular apses and a Pantocrator dome above the nave. The bell tower sits above the narthex. Both domes are octagonal, as are their bases. The western facade ends in a pediment. An open portico sits in front: it features three arches held up by columns of painted masonry, themselves resting on mosaic-coated pedestals as high as the foundation. There are floral patterns between the portico arches, under the main cornice and on the domes. The large windows are semicircular. The interior painting features scenes from the life of Christ; they are done in warm, pale colors, predominantly ocher.The church is listed as a historic monument by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.

Darvari Skete
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The Darvari Skete (Romanian: Schitul Darvari) is a Romanian Orthodox skete located at 3 Schitul Darvari Street, Bucharest, Romania. It is dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. In 1834, căminar (tavern tax collector) Mihalache Darvari built a small church with no dome behind the Icoanei Church. Surrounded by monastic cells and walls, it served as a family chapel. Nuns from Pasărea and Samurcășești monasteries were brought in the following year. They remained until 1864, when domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza ordered them outside the city, and services were subsequently held by married priests. In 1869, monks passing through from Prodromos visited, officiating like on Mount Athos and attracting many visitors. A few stayed behind. In 1894, administrator Nicolae Darvari repaired the ruined skete, adding a small dome to the church.The old church was entirely demolished in 1933-1934 and replaced by the current structure. Architect Gheorghe Simotta employed an Oltenian-Muntenian style, while the entire interior was painted in Athonite fresco by Iosif Keber. In 1959, the communist regime sent the monks to the monasteries at Cernica and Bucium, and Darvari became a subsidiary of Icoanei. The complex was declared a historic monument in 1992, and reopened as a monastic establishment in 1996, with eight young monks.The small cross-shaped church measures 19 x 8 meters, with an octagonal dome that sits on a square base above the nave. The porch has been closed since the original construction. Ktetor Darvari is buried on the west end of the interior. Small silver boxes display relics of several saints, including John Chrysostom, Charalambos, Ignatius of Antioch, Eleftherios, Gerasimus of the Jordan and Ambrose. The monastic cells, chapel and refectory were completed in 2001.

Icoanei Church
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St. Sylvester's Church
St. Sylvester's Church

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Statue of Ion Luca Caragiale (Bucharest)
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