Densuș Church — Attraction in Densuș

St. Nicholas Church in the village of Densus, located about 10 km from Hateg town, is one of the strangest Orthodox churches in Romania. It is built in a Romanesque style, but incorporates Dacian, Gothic and Orthodox elements . The origin and age of construction are very controversial topics. Among the hypotheses are: pagan temple predacic, Dacian Temple worshiped to the god Zamolxe, Roman temple dedicated to the god Mars, later Christianized (Paleo-Christian church, first from Dacia) or all of these in turn. The most circulated hypothesis assumes that the church had been built in the thirteenth century as the core having a Roman building, probably a monument erected in honor of General Longinus Maximus, governor of Roman Dacia. It is the only church in the village and compete for the title of oldest active church in Romania. The monument originally had a square shape, this being now the nave. It was added to the east (actually more to the south, certifying non-Christian origin) semicircular apse of the altar, complete with a diaconicon. Subsequently were added the "southern" gallery and the narthex to the "west", both being now ruined and roofless. Inside the nave there are four pillars, each made up of two Roman altars stacked. Noteworthy the roof made entirely of stone slabs stacked and decorated with statues of two lions. For the construction of the church are used more constructive and decorative marble elements (columns, statues, capitals, tombstones, sewerage pipes) taken from the ruins of Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, the capital of Roman Dacia, located only 10 km. Interior painting dates from 1443 and is the work of a team led by Maestro Stephen, with obvious influences with contemporary paintings of Romanian Country. Between 1566-1720 it served as Reformed-Calvin church, Calvin and painting was covered with thick layers of lime. Afterwards it became Greek Catholic church, and in 1872 he returned (with short interruptions in the late nineteenth century) to Orthodox congregation. Wooden iconostasis was painted in the...

The Densuș Church, also known as the Church of St. Nicholas, is a historic Romanian Orthodox church located in the village of Densuș in Hunedoara County, Romania. Believed to date back to the 7th century, it is considered one of the oldest churches in Romania. The church combines elements of both Roman and Byzantine architecture and is known for its well-preserved medieval frescoes. The Densuș Church has cultural and historical significance, attracting visitors interested in Romania's rich heritage.The Densuș Church is notable for its architectural simplicity, featuring a rectangular shape with a semicircular apse. The construction materials include stone and brick, and the church has a wooden roof. Inside, visitors can admire frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible, including the Last Judgment, saints, and other religious themes. The frescoes are believed to date back to the 14th century and are a valuable example of medieval Romanian religious art.

Despite its relatively small size, the Densuș Church holds a special place in Romanian history, representing the country's early Christian heritage. The church has undergone restoration efforts to preserve its cultural and historical significance, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in exploring Romania's ancient...

The church was partially built using stones from the ruins of Sarmizegetusa. However, what the written tourist paraphernalia do not state, is precisely what impressed me the most: the air of mystery and hermetism that enveloped me as soon as I stepped forward inside the church. In spite of this church not being impressive or majestic in terms of art (although as you can read in Wikipedia, it has important murals), the atmosphere seemed to envelop me, murmuring to my soul that there was a huge chthonic universe lurking beneath the ground. I have been impressed by many Orthodox churches in Romania and Catholic gothic churches in France, but the internal feeling of religious awe has never been as gripping as the one I felt when I entered...