Churches and Monasteries

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in the Ionel I.C.Brătianu Square in Timişoara, near the Cardinal Points Fountain. It is the only evangelical church in Timişoara; the evangelical community here numbers around 400 people and is made up of Germans, Hungarians, Slovakians and Romanians. The religious service if celebrated in all these four languages. The church was built between 1837 and 1839, by architect Antal Schmidt, in Neoclassical style. Note the Doric pilasters on the two levels of the façade, the triangular pediment, as well as the Ionic pilasters of the tower. The roof of the tower, built in Neobaroque style, was probably heightened in 1902. The consecration of the church took place on October 27, 1839. Text source: https://timisoara.eventya.eu/

The Greek-Catholic Church of "The Birth of the Virgin Mary" was built in 1765 to serve the Catholic community in the Fabric district of Timişoara. The Greek-Catholic community came to this Church after the construction of the "Millennium" Church, when the Roman-Catholics moved their services to this new place of worship. Between 1949 and 1990, the building became property of the Orthodox community and was returned to the Greek-Catholic Church after 1990. The church building, designed in the Austrian Baroque style, is rectangular, with a horseshoe-shaped apse. In its western side stands a short tower, helmet covered in sheet-metal, marking the axis of the gate. The overlapping pilasters separate the façade into four axes. The church gate has a frame, which is carved in stone. In the twentieth century, a portico with an arched roof, supported by columns was erected. The trapezoidal brick of the frame bears the inscription "MARIA" and the year of construction: "1765". Inside, the original pulpit is preserved almost intact, with its white and gold colours. The iconostasis painting, done by painter Simionescu, from 1910 to 1920, is also impressive. The interior painting of the church was done in the last decade of last century by brothers Millthaler from Timişoara. Text source: https://timisoara.eventya.eu/

Millennium Church, located in the Romanilor Square in Fabric neighbourhood, is considered to be the biggest Roman-Catholic church in Timişoara. The church was built between 1896 and 1901; the architect was Ybl Lajos, and the builder was Kremer József. The cornerstone was laid on October 4, 1896, in the presence of the Bishop of Cenad, Dessewffy Sándor. The name "Millennium" was given to the church in honour of the celebration of 1000 years since the formation of the Hungarian state in the year 896. The consecration of the church took place on October 13, 1901. From an architectural point of view, elements of the Neo-Roman and Gothic style can be noticed. The thickness of the walls is between 1 and 3,64 meters, the building being covered in raw brick on the outside. The central dome is 45 meters high, and the two towers - 65 meters. Inside the right tower you can find the chapel of St.Anthony of Padua. The big bell weighs 2,420 kg. Above the gate, three life-size statues are placed, one central, that of the Saviour Jesus Christ and the others of Apostles Peter and Paul. The church has an impressive organ, manufactured in 1901 by Carl Leopold Wegenstein, one of the most famous organ manufacturers in Banat. Text and photo sources: http://www.radiotimisoara.ro/; https://timisoara.eventya.eu/

”Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Orthodox Church in Lugoj is one of the most imposing baroque buildings in Banat. It was built between 1759-1766, founded by the overduke Gavril Gurean and was declared a historic monument. The roof has a semicircular form, wrapped in sheets of brass. The bulb of the towers has a neo-baroque style. The doors are true portals, with the height of 3.8 m. The floor is paved with Kelheim tiles. The church is also popularly known as the "Church with two towers", the building houses five bells. In the left tower there are three bells and in the right one there are two big bells. In the space of the church with great acoustics, the famous chorus "Ion Vidu" of the House of Culture of the Municipality Lugoj each year holds the traditional Easter Concert. Information and photo source: http://www.turismlugoj.ro/

The Piarist Church or the Catholic Teachers' Church was built between 1908 and 1909 by the Piarist monks, who arrived in Timişoara in 1788, on the site of an old eighteenth-century Franciscan church, which found itself in an advanced state of decay. The Piarist Church was dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, it was built in an Eclectic and Secession style. The Neo-Byzantine elements are to be noted, as well as the traditional Hungarian decorative elements, among which also some Baroque elements are saved from the old Franciscan church. The church has a tall tower, with a conical roof, flanked by two false buttresses. The side altars were commissioned and executed in Munich. Along with the new church, the Piarist monks also built a school complex. The Piarist monks continued their activity after 1948 as well, and during communist times, their church was considered the students' church. The last Piarist in Romania, P. Francisc Valo O.Sch.P., lived here under modest conditions and passed away in 2005. Text and photo sources: https://www.info-tim.com/; http://timisoara.eventya.eu/

The Calvinist Reformed Church in Dumbrava was built in 1898. The architect who made the plans, Alpár Ignác, was one of the most famous architects of his time. Among his many achievements are the Post Office Palace and "Constantin Diaconovici Loga" National College in Timișoara.

"Cetate" Reformed Church is located in Maria Square in Timisoara, being the former parochial house of Bishop Laszlo Tokes, where the Revolution of December 1989 began. The marble slabs placed near the entrance evoke in four languages ​​(Romanian, Hungarian, German and Serbian) the event: "From here started the Revolution that abolished the dictatorship." 15.XII.1989. The construction was built in 1902, in Anglo-Gothic style, following the plans of architects Nagy Karoly jr. and Janoshazi Laszlo in Budapest. It is covered with apparent Klinker brick and has a cock on one of its towers. The pipe organ of the church was made in the manufactory of Wegenstein Lipot, and the pulpit is the creation of Fischer Jakab. Photo source: https://www.opiniatimisoarei.ro/

The Roman-Catholic Church of the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" is located in Nicolae Bălcescu Square, in the Elisabetin Neighbourhood of Timişoara. It was built in the Neo-Gothic style, by architect Karl Salkovics. In the centre of the church the main altar is found, and in its middle, the life-size statue of Jesus Christ. On June 12, 1912, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the construction of the church began. Works were stalled because of World War I, and later resumed in the spring of 1919. On August 15, 1919, holiday dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the consecration service took place. Bishop Dr. Glattfelder Gyula blessed the church and raised it to the rank of parish church. Later, on September 15, 1919, the church became an independent parish. The Roman-Catholic Church of the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" has stained glass windows and five altars sculpted by Ferdinand Stuflesser. The organ is also impressive: it was commissioned and executed in Germany, by E. F. Walcker from Ludwigsburg, an organ manufacturer renowned worldwide. The installation and tuning of the organ were done by the local Wegenstein company. The organ was consecrated on September 14, 1941. On the outside, the church building is dominated by the two towers, both 57 meters high. The façade is covered in special decorative elements, most notably by the great-sized rosette and by the life-size statue, depicting Jesus Christ. Text source: https://timisoara.eventya.eu/

Dragomireşti is a relatively isolated village, belonging to Ştiuca commune, located 18 km south of Lugoj, on the border with Caraş-Severin County. The current majority population is of Ukrainian origin, coming from Maramureș. They began to settle in Dragomirești from 1964 to 1966. The Orthodox wooden church in Dragomirești was built in 1754 and is dedicated to "Nativity of the Lord". The church was originally built in Zorlenţu Mare, Caraș-Severin County, and was relocated to Dragomirești in 1877. Information and photo sources: http://www.monumenteromania.ro/; http://enciclopediaromaniei.ro/

The old church of Cebza Monastery, a historic monument, located currently in the village cemetery, dedicated to the "Ascension of the Holy Cross", is made of wood, in rectangular shape, being of an impressive simplicity, with brick foundation and the walls of oak beams, over which the plaster was applied, and the shingle roof. It is believed that the Cebza Monastery dates back long before the 18th century. Address: Cebza village, Ciacova town, Timis county Access: DN 59 (E 94) Timișoara, to the South - Jebel (18 km) - right branch, DL to Southwest - Ciacova (9 km) - Cebza (7 km)

In 1910, Bishop Miron Cristea, the future Patriarch, made a canonical visit to the parishes in these places and, being impressed by the beauty of the landscape, decided to build a monastery on the place called the "Warm Lake". The construction of the church began in 1912, thanks to the Glava family donation. It was finished in 1929 and inaugurated in 1931. In 1980 the restoration work of this settlement began, and the church was repainted, so that on July 20, 1991, it was reconsecrated. After 1995, extensive construction works were carried out: a chapel, a trapeze, cells, a library, accommodation places, etc. On June 8, 2003, the new chapel dedicated to "The Healing Spring" was sanctified by His Eminence Lucian of Caransebeș. The old church of the monastery is in the reconstruction phase. Address: Românești village, Tomeşti commune, Timiş county Access: DN 68 A Lugoj, Traian Vuia (21 km) - Făget (15 km) - Coşava (11 km), right branch, DL 108 towards Româneşti Text and photo sources: http://mitropolia-banatului.ro/; http://turismtimis.ro/

The earliest documentary mention of this monastery dates back to 1571. The Austrian Map of Banat in 1723 depicts the monastery as isolated, surrounded by vast forests and marshlands. In the years of communism, the monastic life here was interrupted, the place being taken by the Partoș parish. Between 1955 and 1956 excavations are carried out inside the old church. In 1956 the relics of St. Joseph the New are taken from Partoș and moved to the Metropolitan Cathedral for official canonization. After the reestablishment of the monastery in 2008, important renovations and maintenance works were carried out on the interior of the two churches and the entire precincts. On November 8, 2012, the "Queen Elizabeth House" was put into use, located in the vicinity of the settlement, which includes a museum and a rich library. Address: Partoș village, Banloc commune, Timiş county Road access: DN 59 Timişoara-Moraviţa, DN 59B Deta-Banloc, DJ 184 Banloc-Partoș. It is 57.5 km from Timișoara and 14 km from Deta.

Săraca Monastery is the oldest of the diocese, and for this reason the church model was included in the coat of arms of the Timișoara Archdiocese. The origin of the monastery is not known for certain. According to some historians, it dates back to the 13th-14th centuries. Other researchers, taking into consideration the old painting, claim that the monastery was built in the 16th-17th centuries. From the analysis of the historical documents, it appears that between 1270-1271 the monastery carried out a rich activity, possessing a mill besides the small volcano Șumigu. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the monastery was home to a school where paintings of icons were taught, the teachers being the monks from Tismana, Muntenia. The painted frescoes preserve their remarkable artistic expressiveness until today, being considered the most valuable of these kind in Banat. The settlement was completely restored, being in good working order. Address: Şemlacu Mic village, Şemlacu Mare commune, Timiş county Access: DN 59 Timişoara, to the south - Voiteg (30 km), branch to the right, to Gătaia (19,5 km) - branch to the right, DL towards Butin - Şemlacu Mic (21 km) Information and photo sources: http://mitropolia-banatului.ro/; http://turismtimis.ro/

”Saint George” Serbian Monastery is situated in Mănăstire village, Birda commune, near the river Bârzava and the forest. The architectural style of the monastery is Byzantine, and the painting on the vault is in fresco. The monastery houses a fragment of St. George's skull and a piece of the chain that St. Peter's Apostle was tied to. After 1944, the monastery served as a barrack for a while, then as an office building for the Agricultural Cooperative of Production in the village. At the "St. George" Monastery, only one nun lives, sister Evgenia.

It is a monastery of nuns dedicated to the "Beheading of Saint John the Baptist" (August 29), located about 14 km from Timișoara, in the Giroc Forest. It was founded by Metropolitan Vasile Lăzărescu in 1944. Disbanded during the communist regime, it was reorganized by the diligence of Metropolitan Nicolae Corneanu. The first church was built between 1968-1972. The painting was executed by Victor Jurcă from Lugoj, and the sanctification of the church took place on August 29, 1972. After 1990, a building for pilgrims accomodation was put into use. It has become an Easter tradition for the nuns from Timişeni to paint 1,000 red eggs in order to give them to the faithful people who come to the Resurrection of the Lord service. Address: Şag commune, Timiş county Access: on the road - DN 59 Timişoara, to the south - Şag (14 km). Railways: Timişoara - Reșița, Timişeni station Text and photo sources: http://mitropolia-banatului.ro/, http://turismtimis.ro/