Timișoara, Metropolitan Cathedral

GPS Coordinates:
45.75078 N, 21.22424 E

Since 1919, when Banat unites with Romania, starts the encouraging of the Orthodoxy, disadvantaged till then. Thus, in 1926 is the old parish from the fortress re-established and in 1939 is set up Timișoara's Bishopric, later on the metropolitan seat of Banat. The ambitious project of the Orthodox cathedral with a volumetric capacity of 5000 people was realized the architect Ion Traianescu. Its style combines the religious Byzantine tradition with the Moldavian one. Because of the marshland the edifice stands on a concrete plate supported by more than 1000concrete pillars, 20m deep thrust.

The construction workings lasted 4 years (1936-1940), but the paintings were only finished in 1946. At the inauguration of 1946 assisted King Mihai and Petru Groza prime minister. The 63 m long and 32m wide cathedral has 11 cupolas, the greatest of 83,7m.

A special attention is attributed to the 7 bells, harmonized by the composer Sabin Drăgoi; their sound impress through the unusual resonance and it can be heard in the whole town. The paintings were realized by Atanasie Demian. The cathedral harbors at the basement a rich collection of old religious art from Banat and a precious icon collection. The museum holds 3000 rare religious books, more than 800 icons and paintings and more than 130 religious objects. Here can be found the New Testament from Bălgrad (1648), the Homiliary of Varlaam (1643) and the relics of St. Ioan cel Nou from Partoș the protector of the Orthodox from Banat. The basement part from the altar includes the necropolis of Banat's metropolitan bishops.