The wooden church "The birth of the Virgin Mary" from Ieud Deal
The wooden church "The birth of the Virgin Mary" from Ieud Deal

The wooden church "The birth of the Virgin Mary" from Ieud Deal

Ieud, Romania

About

The ancient hearth of human habitation, Iza Valley, is home to several villages whose history is lost in the mists of time. The village of Ieud was part of the domain of Bogdan from Cuhea, the legendary Maramureș voivode who, by conquering the lands east of the Carpathians and declaring independence from the Kingdom of Hungary, later became the founding Prince of Moldavia. According to legend, the Church of Ieud Deal, dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary, was erected in the second half of the 14th century, but recent research dates it to the beginning of the 17th century. Built of fir wood, the monument is a testament, centuries later, of the mastery of carpenters in this region.

The layout of the church was adapted to the needs of the Orthodox Christian cult, being composed of three rooms: narthex, nave and altar.

The access inside the place of worship is made from the west, through a portal without decoration, recurrent at the entrance to the nave. Natural light penetrates the monument through small pentagonal windows. With only four pentagonal openings, the narthex is dark. The nave, however, enjoys more sunlight, coming from its twelve windows, six placed on each side: three at the lower level and three at the upper one.

Above the narthex rises the famous Maramureș bell tower. Unique architectural solution for wooden constructions, the steeple supports a turret covered by a square-shaped coif with a square base, which points to the sky, defying the law of gravity, reminiscent of the audacious forms of European Gothic.

The mural painting and the icons dating back to the 18th century give a special value to this monument. The church was painted in 1782 by Alexandru Ponehalschi, one of the most important representatives of the post-Byzantine current in Maramureş at that time. An original element of the Maramureș iconography is represented by the scenes in the nave of this place of worship, which capture the themes of conversion and baptism. It is about the baptism by Deacon Philip of a great Ethiopian ruler and the conversion of the Holy Apostle Paul.

A true temple of the ancestral faith and culture, the church in Ieud preserved among its beams one of the oldest manuscripts in Romanian, also known as the "Codex of Ieud". The manuscript currently enriches the collection of the library of the Romanian Academy with its pages, full of spirituality and history.

*Photo credit: CJCPCT „Liviu Borlan” Maramureș, Rada Pavel

Statut

Patrimoniu UNESCO

Photo Gallery

Similar Suggestions

5.0 1 review
The mixed nature reserve "Farcău Peak - Vinderelu Lake - Mihăilecu Peak" covers an area of ​​about 100 hectares and consists of meadows and lakes, bordered by two mountain peaks, revealing a very beautiful glacial relief. The Vinderelu Lake, one of the main attractions of this protected area, is an oval-shaped glacial lake, located at an altitude of 1615 m. The reserve also surprises with rare species of plants, such as edelweiss, bog bilberry, mouse-ear-hawkweed and spring crocus (lat.crocus vernus), which can be found on the meadows.
Vârful Farcău - Lacul Vinderelu - Vârful Mihăilecu, Romania
This Nature Reserve of floristic, faunistic and landscape type is located in the Maramureș Mountains and stands out because of a compact alpine meadow where Narcissus radiiflorus grow, but also other floral species specific to the relief. The best time to visit the protected area is in early July, when a carpet of wild daffodils magnificently covers the glade.
Located in the depression of the Igniș plateau, at an altitude of just under 1000 m, the Fir Trees Glade Marsh has been declared a protected area. The nature reserve includes an area of oligotrophic marshes, ideal for the development of a fauna specific to peat lands, but also meadows and areas covered with forests. The area is also known as the lowest altitude at which juniper grows in Romania. Many species of mammals, birds and reptiles find shelter in this picturesque nature reserve.
Giulesti, Romania
The Iezerul Mare Marsh protected area is a natural reserve of floristic and faunal type. Of the total well-preserved marsh area, which covers about 20 hectares, five hectares are protected by the law. The area includes a body of water surrounded by oligotrophic marshes, rich in peat-like vegetation. The reserve located on the plateau of the Igniș Mountains, at an altitude of 1,014 m, is the ideal habitat for many species of birds, mammals and reptiles, being a veritable monument of nature.
Desești, Romania
Located at an altitude of 1040 m, the oligotrophic marsh Tăul Negru is a protected natural area with special plant species, thus requiring the conservation of its biodiversity. The peat bog, which in some areas reaches heights between 1.8 and 3 m, has a blackish pond in its central part.
Baiut, Romania
The protected area is located in the Gutâi-Igniș Mountains and covers 15 hectares. Here we find the only andesite gorge in Romania, stretching across 700 m. The wild area and the Runcu creek, which smoothly runs through the gorge, enhance the beauty of the nature reserve. Unfortunately, once with the completion of works to the Runcu-Firiza dam, part of this picturesque area will be flooded.
DJ183A, Romania
Part of the administrative territory of Coroieni township, the geological nature reserve "Cheile Babei" includes the sector of gorges dug by the Poieni creek in Eocene limestone and covers an area of ​​about 15 hectares. The reserve is home to small waterfalls, canyons and a few caves, and is of great biological importance. In the area one can also admire the famous lime kilns used to burn quarry stone.
DJ109F, Târgu Lăpuș 437127, Romania
The small museum pays homage to Ignaz Edler von Born, a renowned metallurgist who studied minerals, and Papp Simon, an illustrious geologist whose name is linked to crude oil extraction technology. Ignaz von Born's expertise was recognized even by Empress Maria Theresa, for whom the metallurgist cataloged the minerals in the imperial collection. He also had a decisive contribution to the mercury amalgamation technology used to increase the purity of the extracted metals. His considerable contribution to the field he loved so much was recognized by the decision to name a mineral after him, namely bornite. Born's personality served as a muse for the composer W. A. ​​Mozart, who was inspired by the famous scholar, when he created the main character in the famous opera "The Magic Flute". Although his career in metallurgy was the one that brought Ignaz von Born his well-deserved success, he also distinguished himself as a satirical writer. Geologist Papp Simon, in turn, had a brilliant professional career, making himself known abroad, both through his geological mapping work and his significant contribution to the development of the oil industry. Today, in the patrimony of the museum arranged in honor of the two sons of Cavnic town, visitors can see numerous objects, such as documents, photographs, scientific papers, which keep their memory alive, as well as a collection of minerals that belonged to the two personalities. Also housed here are a series of mining tools and objects, reminiscent of the golden age of the small mining town, Cavnic.
Strada Eliberării, Cavnic 435300, Romania
Biserica de lemn „Sfinții Arhangheli Mihail și Gavril” a fost ridicată inițial în Țara Oașului, în perioada anului 1721. Lăcașul construit din lemn de stejar are dimensiuni modeste, turnul-clopotniță având de asemenea proporții reduse. Din pictura murală care împodobește pereții micuței biserici se mai disting doar fragmente. *Sursă foto: CJCPCT „Liviu Borlan” Maramureș
Șurdești 437332, Romania