Olari Church
For many people, Curtea de Argeș has remained a symbol of human beauty, simplicity and work. Even though the city quickly lost its title of “capital”, it remained one of the most important urban centers until the beginning of the twentieth century.
A large part of the population is made up of craftsmen and, among them, potters are the most numerous. For this reason, a neighborhood of the city is called Olari, where the memory of this custom is kept alive until now.
Here you can find the Olari Church, which is dedicated to the “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” - an important religious monument among the population of Curtea de Argeș but also a tourist attraction through its mysteries.
Location and Surroundings
Located on Cuza Vodă Street in Curtea de Argeș, the Olari Church blends easily with the calm decoration of the streets and the harmony that reigns in the neighborhood. The place is simple and familiar. As the church approaches, some trees of fabulous height announce its appearance.
Olari Church
A small, shaded space invites you to take a seat and admire the carefully crafted paintings as well as the ancient construction. The place of worship is welcoming and speaks to all tourists in the language of the soul, through the state of harmony it gives.
History
The date of construction of this religious monument has not been discovered by any specialist in the field. This fact launches a mystery that is intertwined with the enigma of the paintings in the same building. There is no information regarding the craftsmen, the sponsors or the date of the church’s construction. An inscription on a stone cross in the vicinity of the construction mentions some names:
„Tudor, monk Salomia…, Radul, Voica, Albul, Voina, Neacşa, Albul… Frăncul, Oprişa, Stanciu, Ivani, Rucsanda, Alba, Despa, Voicu“
These could be the representatives of the urban community and the guild of the potters who contributed to the erection of the place of worship.
Construction and architecture
Covered with shingles, it has richly painted ornamentation on the facade, realized by a talented anonymous craftsman.
The construction plan, different from the architecture of Muntenia, comprises elements of wood and moulding architecture that are authentically combined.
The construction has a bell tower attached to the south side of the edifice, which caused those who studied the construction to notice similarities with the architecture of the churches of the 17th century Moldova.
Olari Church, view towards the altar
The mysterious date
A mystery surrounds the date when the church was built. Through its unique appearance in the architectural landscape of the Romanian Country, the Olari Church has enjoyed a great interest because of the date when it was built.
Among the researchers who tried to elucidate the mystery are: Nicolae Iorga, Grigore Tocilescu, Victor Brătulescu, Virgil Drăghiceanu and N. Ghika Budești and Grigore Ionescu - the names of the greatest historians and people who laid the foundation of the history of Romanian architecture.
Even though the masters of history have tried to elucidate the mystery of dating the construction, the craftsmen or the buildings that served as a model for the religious establishment, they have not succeeded. The date of construction remains a mystery even now.
Church art
The church is remarkable in Romania through its particular paintings but especially because of the most controversial fresco being -the representation of death. Unfortunately, the entire church painting is in an advanced stage of degradation.
The painting is not limited to the interior space in the case of the Olari Church, it also animates the exterior of the church, transforming it into a building different from the normal ones. The representations of saints cover the southern facade and create an encased atmosphere.
The hypothesis is that the painting dates from 1869 (year that is indicated in an inscription inside the edifice). The fresco shows, however, that we are in front of a settlement built and decorated by a strong community.
Fresco on the outer wall of the church
The painting is noticeable by the color and the plasticity of the expression. Each image transmits an emotion engraved for eternity on the walls of the Olari Church.
The portrait of death
What attracts most tourists to the Olari Church is the “death” portrait. With a deep significance and at the same time much place of interpretation, the portrait of “Death” from Olari represents a mythical depiction of the phenomenon.
The representation is however different from the normal ones, here, Death is not a fleshy body like a monster but a conventional sign. The stylized wings highlight the demonic side.
The appearance of the “Death” painting from Olari indicates that it is more recent than the building.
The portrait of death
Useful information
Priest of the Parish: Pr. Croitoru Vasile
Telephone number: 0723 285 198
Liturgical Program:
Wednesday, 08h00-12h00: Holy Confession
Friday, 08.30-11: Morning mass and the Holy Unction , 5.00 pm: Akathist.
Saturday, 08:30: Requiem Mass
Sunday, 08.00-12.00: Morning Mass and the Holy Liturgy.
Permanent availability for the religious services.
