Icoanei Church

About

The Icoanei Church (Romanian: Biserica Icoanei) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 12 Icoanei Street in Bucharest, Romania. It is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The church derives its name from a 1682 icon that mentions a wooden church which, according to Nicolae Iorga, was built by Ceauș (messenger) David Corbea, whom Constantin Brâncoveanu sent as emissary to the court of Peter the Great.

In its early years, it was thus also known as Ceauș David or Popa Dima, after a priest. In its stead, Mihail Băbeanu, former privy secretary to the Prince of Wallachia, built a domed wooden church surrounded by cells, variously dated to 1745-1750 or 1770. The first masonry church, dedicated to the Trinity, dates to 1784–1786; its ktetor was mercenary captain Panait Băbeanu, nephew of Mihail.

As depicted in the votive painting, this church had three domes and a three-lobed plan, and was painted in fresco. Panait added twelve cells for poor widows. Damaged by the 1838 earthquake, the church was restored by Pană Băbeanu, the grandson of Panait, assisted by parishioners.

The iconostasis, still in use, dates to 1850. By 1862, the church was in ruins, its funds wasted by Ioniță Băbeanu. In 1873,...