Wooden Church at Rogoz, Romania


Built in 1663, on the location of a previous church destroyed by the Tartars two years earlier, the wooden church at Rogoz is a UNESCO monument. The church consists of a pronaos over which is a gallery, a naos, and an apse. The interior ceiling is vaulted. The wooden architecture upon a stone foundation is standard; however, there are interesting stylistic features. The doorframe is heavy and consists of two posts cut into the figure '1' with the flanges facing each other. A trapezoidal lintel spans the space of the door, supported by two short beams. There is an ornate cross to the left of the door. The beams supporting the roof are not in the usual rectilinear manner, but were cut into rounded lobes. The bell tower is embellished by four small spires at the corners of the main spire.
The painting cycle inside the church is very well preserved. The paintings were made in 1785 by Radu Munteanu from Ungareni and Nicolae Man of Poiana Porcului. Scenes include episodes from the book of Genesis and the Life of Christ, as well as saints. The Last Judgement occupies a large port of the walls.
On the north side of the church, along one of the long walls is a table consisting of three massive oak beams ca. 10 meters in length.
(composed 2015 for website of Transylvania Alive Association for Cultural Heritage) 













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

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