Old Church

The “Cuvioasa Paraschiva” Church in Rășinari or the Old Church, a historical monument and architectural jewel, opens its doors right in the heart of the village, in the old centre of Rășinari, in the place called “La Scaun”, a place of judgement in the past. Its Baroque architecture was inspired by that of the Roman Catholic Jesuit church in the centre of Sibiu.

From the testimony of the united protopope of Rășinari, Tatomir, recorded in a document drawn up on 17 May 1761, it appears that the Church of St Paraschiva was built to replace an ‘old, very old church (templum antiquum utpote vetustissimum), so that forgetfulness had fallen on those who built it’.

In his 1940 monographic study of the church of “Cuvioasa Paraschiva”, the local tradition of the building of the present building around the old church, which was not demolished until the new walls rose to the level of the vaults, was recorded by the local priest Emilian Cioran.

The church preserves interior frescoes made by painters from Rășinari, such as the painter Stan, son of Pope Radu from Rășinari. On closer inspection, you will notice something unusual: the biblical figures in the icons wear traditional local garments.

Painters from Rinain have also been invited to collaborate on the outdoor mural programme. They painted several monumental iconographic compositions on the apse walls and on the north and south facades of the nave, including images of patriarchs, prophets, apostles, holy hierarchs and holy mucians. The identity of the two is revealed in an inscription, still visible in the lower left corner of the composition depicting the “Jesus’ lament”: “1758 (with slove) painter Pop Ivan, teacher Nistor stară” (Chronology of the building and artistic elaboration of the church of “St. Cuvioasă Paraschiva”, in Rășinari (1752-1798 Lect. dr. Ioan Ovidiu Abrudan)”.

Among the saints’ faces and thematic paintings representing various biblical scenes, one of the “zugraveli” attracts attention. It is a painting that the locals know is called “The Wheel of Life”, from mosi-stramosi. Placed on one of the supporting pillars of the bell tower, just near the entrance to the church, “The Wheel of Life” intrigues even today by the way it was made, the chosen theme and the archaic-Christian symbolism it approaches.