Monumentul reprezentativ al Clujului este fără discuţie Biserica Romano-Catolică Sfântul Mihail din Piaţa Unirii, bineînţeles, împreună cu statuia lui Matei Corvin din faţa ei despre care vom vorbi separat. Nici nu poate fi altfel: este o superbă biserică gotică medievală, a doua ca mărime din ţară după Biserica Neagră din Braşov dar cu cel mai înalt turn (74 de metri). Turnul este o construcţie neogotică de secol 19 însă construcţia a început în 1316 în vremea lui Carol Robert de Anjou (1288-1342), cel care în 1330 avea să piardă bătălia de la Posada în luptă cu Basarab I (1310-1352), întemeietorul Ţării Româneşti. Este oarecum singurul său eșec într-o domnie în care a consolidat regatul maghiar și prerogativele regale în fața magnaților feudali.
Aşadar biserica Sfântul Mihail din Cluj a traversat veacuri, înălţându-se tot mai frumoasă şi schimbând deseori orientarea...religioasă. Într-adevăr, şi ea a fost implicată în tumulturile religioase ale Transilvaniei (Reformă şi Contrareformă), devenind pe rând biserică luterană, calvinistă, unitariană şi din nou catolică până în vremurile noastre. Din fericire, astăzi avem mult mai multe libertăţi decât în secolele trecute, printre care libertatea religioasă, de a ne alege religia sau de nu a avea una.
Biserica a văzut evenimente importante precum botezul lui Matei Corvin (1458-1490), născut la Cluj în 1443, sau investirea unor principi ai Transilvaniei precum Sigismund Bathory (1588-1602 cu întreruperi), aliatul şi apoi adversarul lui Mihai Viteazul, sau Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) care a dus Principatul Transilvaniei la cea mai mare strălucire şi întindere.
În zilele noastre este martora vieţii de zi cu zi a clujenilor şi este un fundal superb pentru orice sărbătoare în Piaţa Unirii.
Înainte de a intra în biserică puteţi vedea în stânga statuia Arhiepiscopului Marton Aron (1896-1980), care chiar în această biserică a denunțat deportările evreilor de autoritățile fasciste maghiare (mai 1944). După 1948 a fost întemnițat de regimul comunist pentru că s-a exprimat public pentru libertatea religioasă, între altele condamnând explicit desființarea bisericii greco-catolice. Eliberat în 1955, a mai avut de suferit peste 10 ani de arest la domiciliu.
Eu am încercuit de mai multe ori catedrala, admirând fațadele, detaliile și pietrele atât de frumos șlefuite, construcție atât de asemănătoare cu catedralele gotice apusene. Înăuntru puteți admira poate cele mai frumoase vitralii din România (nu am vizitat încă Biserica Neagră pentru a verifica dacă rivalizează).
Fotografiile 1 și 2: Mirela Bena
Înainte de a intra în biserică puteţi vedea în stânga statuia Arhiepiscopului Marton Aron (1896-1980), care chiar în această biserică a denunțat deportările evreilor de autoritățile fasciste maghiare (mai 1944). După 1948 a fost întemnițat de regimul comunist pentru că s-a exprimat public pentru libertatea religioasă, între altele condamnând explicit desființarea bisericii greco-catolice. Eliberat în 1955, a mai avut de suferit peste 10 ani de arest la domiciliu.
Eu am încercuit de mai multe ori catedrala, admirând fațadele, detaliile și pietrele atât de frumos șlefuite, construcție atât de asemănătoare cu catedralele gotice apusene. Înăuntru puteți admira poate cele mai frumoase vitralii din România (nu am vizitat încă Biserica Neagră pentru a verifica dacă rivalizează).
Fotografiile 1 și 2: Mirela Bena
The Saint Michael Roman-Catholic Church in Cluj
The Catholic Cathedral is the representative monument of Cluj, along with the statue of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. I will speak of it separately because there is a lot to say.
This church is the second in size in Romania after the Black Church in Braşov and has the highest bell tower (74 meters). The tower is a 19th century Gothic Revival construction but the church was started in 1316 in the times of Charles I of Hungary (1288-1342). He is an important figure in the history of Hungary, consolidating the royal prerogatives in the face of the nobles and strengthening the realm. His one setback was the defeat at Posada (1330) at the hands of Basarab I (1310-1352) who thus won independence for the Romanian principality of Wallachia.
This church is the second in size in Romania after the Black Church in Braşov and has the highest bell tower (74 meters). The tower is a 19th century Gothic Revival construction but the church was started in 1316 in the times of Charles I of Hungary (1288-1342). He is an important figure in the history of Hungary, consolidating the royal prerogatives in the face of the nobles and strengthening the realm. His one setback was the defeat at Posada (1330) at the hands of Basarab I (1310-1352) who thus won independence for the Romanian principality of Wallachia.
Through the ages, the Saint Michael Church saw many events. It was affected by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, going from Lutheran to Calvinist, Unitarian and back to Catholic. Fortunately, today we have the freedom to chose our religion, if any.
It is in this church that Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary (1458-1490), was baptized. He was born in Cluj (1443). Princes of Transylvania Sigismund Bathory (1588-1602 with interruptions) and Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) were crowned in this church. The first was an ally and then an opponent of Michael the Brave of Wallachia (1593-1601) who would also briefly rule Transylvania (1600-1601). The second was one of the most successful princes of Transylvania, participating to the Thirty Years War on the Protestant side and consolidating his principality, which was then respected on the European theater and had a great deal of autonomy from the Turks.
The church is a silent witness to the activities of the people of Cluj and is a beautiful backdrop to the festivities in Union Square.
Before you enter the church you can see the statue of Archbishop Marton Aron (1896-1980). It is in Saint Michael's Church that in May 1944 he condemned the deportations of the Jews by the Hungarian fascist regime. Years later he spoke for the freedom of consciousness, condemning the dissolution of the Greek-Catholic Church by the communist authorities in 1948. He was imprisoned, spending several years in jail and then a lot more in house arrest. He was ultimately freed and widely respected for his actions.
I walked around the cathedral several times, admiring the details, the stones and the way it looks so much like the cathedrals of Western Europe. It has beautiful stained glass windows, possibly the most beautiful in Romania. I haven't visited the Black Church in Brașov yet to see if they match up.
Pictures 1 and 2: Mirela Bena
It is in this church that Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary (1458-1490), was baptized. He was born in Cluj (1443). Princes of Transylvania Sigismund Bathory (1588-1602 with interruptions) and Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) were crowned in this church. The first was an ally and then an opponent of Michael the Brave of Wallachia (1593-1601) who would also briefly rule Transylvania (1600-1601). The second was one of the most successful princes of Transylvania, participating to the Thirty Years War on the Protestant side and consolidating his principality, which was then respected on the European theater and had a great deal of autonomy from the Turks.
The church is a silent witness to the activities of the people of Cluj and is a beautiful backdrop to the festivities in Union Square.
Before you enter the church you can see the statue of Archbishop Marton Aron (1896-1980). It is in Saint Michael's Church that in May 1944 he condemned the deportations of the Jews by the Hungarian fascist regime. Years later he spoke for the freedom of consciousness, condemning the dissolution of the Greek-Catholic Church by the communist authorities in 1948. He was imprisoned, spending several years in jail and then a lot more in house arrest. He was ultimately freed and widely respected for his actions.
I walked around the cathedral several times, admiring the details, the stones and the way it looks so much like the cathedrals of Western Europe. It has beautiful stained glass windows, possibly the most beautiful in Romania. I haven't visited the Black Church in Brașov yet to see if they match up.
Pictures 1 and 2: Mirela Bena
