Sf Imparati Constantin si Elena Church, Calarasi

LOCATION

Str. Eroilor, nr. 12, Calarasi, Romania

DESCRIPTION

From the inventory drawn up by the City Hall of Călăraşi we find out that the church is built on a land located at Bucharest str 103A from a donation (it is not known whether Filip Lens who bought the land for the church, granted it it by donation, and if yes, when this happened). The covered area is 454.10 sq m and the uncovered area is 2746 sq m . The brick-built and whitewashed church was built in 1860 and has three rooms. In a 1940 report it is stated that the parish was established by a law in 1894, and the church had two temples from the beginning: the Holy Patrons and St. Archangels Michael and Gavriil.

The church dedicated to the Holy Patrons of Călăraşi - Sf Imparati Constantin si Elena Church, Calarasi - is built of burnt brick, on brickwork, like all the buildings of that time, and covered with blackboard. It is in the form of a cross, having two spiers: one on the pronaos and the other on the nave, both of which are planked and covered with sheet metal. The church has a nave, a narthex, and an altar, and an open porch that rests on four cylindrical pillars with capitals. The dimensions are as follows: length 30 m, width 9 m, height to the eaves 6 m, and an opening of the aprons of the narthex reaches the width of 15 m. Next to the church is the bell tower, built in 1890, made of brick, covered with a board, with four rooms built in the same year.

HISTORY

Shortly after Calarasi became the capital of Ialomita County, in the spring of 1833, the population almost doubled and the city's perimeter increased. There was a new neighborhood - Volna, where, the first landowners had a special status with respect to the rest of the inhabitants who have continued to pay their obligations to the owner of the estate on which the city was situated - Eforia Hospitals Civil, - until 1852, when the city would be declared free.

The first paintings of the church were executed by painter Costache Dumitrescu from Buzau, in the style of Tătărescu's school, being finished as indicated by his signature, on October 1, 1860.

Next to the church is the bell tower, built in 1890, made of brick, covered with a board, with four rooms built in the same year.

In 1942-1943, on the basis of the forecast and plan drawn by architect LV Scarlatescu, internal restoration works and interior and exterior repairs were carried out in the bell tower of the church and the adjoining annexes. Other repairs were carried out in 1978 along with those of the church.

In 1944 there repairs were made to the exterior and interior, their value, which includes the restoration of the painting, being of 800,000 lei and in 1963 works on the church and bell tower were performed, within the limit of 3,100 lei, expenses incurred of the parish's own funds.

In 2005, thanks to the efforts of PC Pr. Frumuşelu Mihai, the church is restrained and endowed with PVC joinery and insulating windows, as well as central heating on wood.

In 2008, church restoration works were carried out, the cost of 120,000 lei being borne by the City Hall of Grădiştea - 90,500 lei and the Calarasi County Council - 29,500 lei.

After the restoration of the painting, with the approval of Patriarch Justinian, on October 18, 1970, the church was reopemd. On the Archdiocese‘s behalf the ceremony was attended by the former priest Leonida Mateescu - Administrative Advisor.

On Sunday, June 10, 2012, 100 years after the church was sanctified, the Holy Father Vincentiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Calarasi, was alongside the faithful of the parish, carrying out the Divine Liturgy.

Next to the church is the bell tower, built in 1890, made of brick, covered with a board, with four rooms built in the same year.

SITE SIGNIFICANCE

Historical monuments from 2004.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The parish carries out the following activities: food is distributed weekly to needy parishioners, financial aid is given to the needy people for medicines. Within the parish, the Christ program shared with the children is constantly being carried on. The parish has a functional parish library, holding 160 volumes of ritual books and works of church writers, as well as 1482 numbers of specialized magazines.

OTHER INFORMATION

The church dedicated to the Holy Patrons of Călăraşi is included in the list of historical monuments from 2004.

https://audiotravelguide.ro/biserica-sfintii-constantin-si-elena-calarasi/

SITE CLASSIFICATION

Religious object.