Topla wooden church
| Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos | |
|---|---|
Biserica „Nașterea Maicii Domnului” | |
 Northeast side | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Romanian Orthodox |
| Patron | Nativity of the Theotokos |
| Year consecrated | 1997 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Banat Village Museum, Timișoara, Romania |
| Geographic coordinates | 45°46′41″N 21°15′55″E / 45.77806°N 21.26528°E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1746 |
| Materials | Sessile oak |
Topla wooden church is currently located in the premises of the Banat Village Museum in Timișoara, Romania. It is registered in the list of historical monuments (2004) with the code TM-II-m-A-06093.[1]
History
[edit]It was built around 1746 in the village of Remetea-Luncă in Timiș County, bearing the patronage of Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel.[2] In 1806, another church was built in Remetea-Luncă, also made of wood, but more spacious. On this occasion, the old church was given to the village of Topla, located four kilometers to the north. The move was made in later years, using oak rollers pulled by 24 pairs of oxen.[2] The donation is recorded on a gospel kept in the church.[3]
Due to the depopulation of the village of Topla and the danger of degradation, in the 1980s the first steps to relocate the church began. In 1987 the church was demolished, and in 1992 it was transferred to the Banat Village Museum in Timișoara. Between 1994 and 1996 mounting and restoration work was carried out.[4] But, in 1998, a strong storm brought down the trunk of a tree on top of it, thus needing restoration and consolidation both inside and outside.[5] Then a supporting vault was made along the entire length of the altar and the nave.[3]
The consecration of the church dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God took place on 13 April 1997. After this date, the church returned to the purpose for which it was built, becoming an Orthodox parish for the residents of the Green Forest area.
Architecture
[edit]Topla wooden church is one of the most representative old churches in Banat built in the style of traditional architecture, which is still in operation, along with the other wooden churches in the Făget area, from Zolt, Povârgina, Bătești, Curtea and Românești. It is built of oak beams carved into four sides and placed one on top of the other, having as a base oak soles placed on a stone foundation.[6] The roof is made of shingles, as is the covering of the tower. The wooden belfry, fitted with a 150-kilogram bell, is separate, being placed to the right of the church.[7]
Typologically, it belongs to the series of churches with the apse of the altar uncrossed, keeping the original doors and windows. The western portal is a special artistic achievement, made of parquet boards, arranged in concentric rhombuses and decorated with metal marks. The entire portal appears surrounded by a splendid motif of the torsade, which then continues on the entire outer perimeter of the church in the form of a median belt.[6] The interior painting, still in good condition today, was done in 1807.[3] The iconostasis is made of solid wood with openings carved in the shape of a brace, reminiscent of a decorative motif practiced in Brâncovenesc art. Its painting was probably executed in 1854.[8]
In the church yard, a cemetery has been reconstructed where several wooden, metal and stone crosses are placed, next to a trifle carved by the folk craftsman Alexandru Perța-Cuza.[6]
Gallery
[edit]- Outside
-
From south -
The median belt -
Door to nave -
Original nave window -
The entrance portal
- Inside
-
The narthex -
The nave -
The altar -
Apostles on the iconostasis
References
[edit]
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice din județul Timiș" (PDF). Direcția Județeană pentru Cultură Timiș.
- ^ a b Săcară, Nicolae (2001). Bisericile de lemn ale Banatului. Timișoara: Excelsior. ISBN 973-592-050-6.
- ^ a b c Both, Ștefan (12 April 2015). "Povestea bisericii-monument din 1746, strămutată prima dată cu ajutorul unui tăvălug tras de 24 perechi de boi". Adevărul.
- ^ Cărările credinței. Biserici de lemn monument-istoric din județul Timiș. Graphite. 2006. ISBN 973-87485-8-5.
- ^ Ionescu, Marius (8 October 2024). "Blestemul bisericii de la Muzeul Satului. Are 278 de ani și este cel mai valoros lăcaș de cult din lemn din Banat". Ghidul Banatului.
- ^ a b c "Bisericile de lemn din Arhiepiscopia Timișoarei". Mitropolia Banatului.
- ^ "Biserica din Topla (Jud. Timiș)". Muzeul Satului Bănățean.
- ^ Giurgiu, George (23 August 2012). "Cel mai valoros lăcaș de lemn din Banat". Ziarul Lumina.
