Mavrogheni Church

About

The Mavrogheni Church (Romanian: Biserica Mavrogheni) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 4 Monetăriei Street in Bucharest, Romania, north of Victory Square. It is dedicated to the Life-giving Spring. The church was built in 1786-1787 by Nicholas Mavrogenes, the Prince of Wallachia, and his wife Maria, in thanks for their daughter’s recovery from an incurable disease.

It was initially a monastery attached to Panagia Ekatontapiliani on his native Paros, and the ktetor endowed it with land, stores and mills. It became a parish church after the 1863 secularization of monastic estates. The church was already deteriorated in 1794, when Prince Alexander Mourouzis ordered repairs.

After the 1838 earthquake, it was repaired in 1847: the dome above the narthex was removed, and a portico was added, the latter being replaced in 1947. According to the new pisanie, massive repairs took place in 1890 and again in 1902. Further interventions were undertaken in 1941, following the 1940 quake, which destroyed the bell tower near the street; and in 1945, following the 1944 aerial bombardments.

In 1971-1973, the interior was repainted after the 1927 frescoes had deteriorated. The 1977 earthquake...