Page 11 - Transylvania : The Wooden Church Reghin 1725

whole surface of the altar, a style designated by a long time, there is a need for major reparations. The
Orthodox religious imperatives. It appears from the design necessary documents have been drafted and submitted to
of the artwork that Toader Zugravul was in direct contact the official authorities asking that the church be declared
with Áyion Óros, the ‘Holy Mountain,’ also known as a “Museum,” and that the shingled roof be repaired, work
Mount Athos, situated in northern Greece and where that is urgently needed. As part of this declaration, the
an autonomous theocracy of the Greek Orthodox faith patrimonial objects in the building would be donated to the
flourished during this era. There are also artworks done Mures County Museum.
by Toader Zugravul above the doors of the church temple,
the so-called fourteen ‘praznicars,’ or masterpieces. On Parish Priest Ilie Damian
the back of one of these icons is the original signature
of this great painter. Since 1789, the church has been
renovated several times and the temple, were the church’s
patrimonial objects are kept, contains several royal icons
that date from later epochs.

Reference to the early history of the Church is cursory,
stating only that, “Anonymous abbots have served the
church,” thus the names of those who served prior to
Petru Maior are unknown. Names of subsequent parish
priests are: Pamfil, who served the parish for forty years;
Basil the Great, functionary for thirty years; and Petru
Ciobotaru, who was parish priest for forty years. Basil
the Great and Petru Ciobotaru are buried near the church.
In 1848 the parish as such ceased to exist and the church
became an affiliate of the 2nd Parish of Reghin, headed by
Priest Pop Gheorghe. Since then, the Priest Ioan Oprinca
served the church until 1940 and Priest Iuliu Man was
formally in charge until 1948.

Some renovations of the building were undertaken in
1980. The roof was given new shingles, while the cupola
and floor were refurbished. The Parish was reestablished
in 1985 and it was at this time that the name of the church
was changed to “Petru Maior,” out of well-deserved
respect for this great scholar, priest, and servant of the
church. The re-endowment of the Parish and the changing
of the name became a crucial moment in the life of this
church and the Petru Maior Church has come to represent
a valued part of the national heritage of the Orthodox
culture of Romania, as well as a renowned artistic
monument. Each year it is visited by hundreds of tourists
from many countries in the world.

Today the ‘Petru Maior Parish’ flourishes under the
attentive direction of Priest Ilie Damian who takes good
care of the church, recognizing that it is an eminent 11
historical monument of his country. However it is exigent Reghin
to note that because the structure is made of wood and Parish Priest Ilie Damian The
due to the fact that the church was neglected for such Wooden
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