Wooden Church at Ciumarna, Romania

The Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel at Ciumarna is a small gem as one crosses the Meses Mountains toward Zalau. Probably constructed in the early 18th century, this small church (ca. 10 x 2.9 meters) is composed of a rectangular pronaos and naos and a linear-apsidal altar space. The exterior is largely unembellished, save the door frame which has two concentric carved rope motifs with a band of 'X's in relief; there are large solar symbols at the foot of each rope and X motif. There are stylized crosses at the center of the solar motifs. The south wall bears two wooden crosses. There are two windows on the south wall, one on the southeastern side of the apse and one on the north wall. The roof-support elements are stepped with roughly curved edges. The steeple stands at 12.85 meters and has 4 pairs of small arched apertures.

The interior still hosts painting, including representations of Emperor Constantine and his mother, St. Helen, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, saints, and medallions with scenes from the New Testament framed within a fiery border. The ceiling is vaulted.
(composed 2015 for website of Transylvania Alive Association for Cultural Heritage) 

Wooden Church at Ciumarna (photos Eric De Sena, 2015).