Church of the Holy Archangels, Satulung

About

The Church of the Holy Archangels is a Romanian Orthodox Church located on Victor Jinga Street, Săcele, Romania. Located in Satulung, a former village that is now a district of Săcele, it is dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. A wooden church stood on the site as early as the 17th century.

The present church was built between 1794 and 1799 with contributions from the local mocan shepherds, without help from the government. The church and its affiliated school were ready in spring, and dedicated in the summer of 1799. Earlier, in 1796, Bishop Gerasim Adamović had blessed the site of the future altar.

Gradually, locals also donated censers, candelabra, candleholders and vestments. They also paid for four bells. During World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Army requisitioned three of them for war materiel, leaving only the large one; the three were replaced after the war.

The church has a trefoil plan adopted from Wallachia. However, the spatial arrangement, based on cylindrical ceilings of stone, brick and wood, is characteristic of Transylvania. The western entrance has a porch, initially open but later closed with large windows, to protect the structure from the elements.

The...