St. Michael's Church, Cluj-Napoca

The St. Michael's Church (Romanian: Biserica Sfântul Mihail, Hungarian: Szent Mihály-templom, German: Michaelskirche) is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic church in Cluj-Napoca. It is the second largest church (after the Biserica Neagră of Brașov) in the geographical region of Transylvania, Romania. The nave is 50 meters long and 24 meters wide, the apse is 20×10 m. The tower with its height of 76 meter (80 meter including the cross) is the highest one in Transylvania.

St. Michael's Church
Biserica Sfântul Mihail (in Romanian)
Szent Mihály-templom (in Hungarian)
Michaelskirche} (in German)
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
RegionTransylvania
PatronMichael
Location
LocationUnion Square, Cluj-Napoca
CercleRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia
Geographic coordinates46.76996°N 23.58932°E / 46.76996; 23.58932
Architecture
StyleGothic, Baroque and Gothic Revival (tower)[1]
Groundbreaking1316[2]
Completed1487
Specifications
Width (nave)50 m[3]
Height (max)80 m (incl. 4-m high cross)[4]
MaterialsStone
In 1840

History

The construction was begun probably in place of the Saint James Chapel. The financing of the church was partly done by the citizens, partly from the income of indulgences. The first related document, dating back to 1349 and signed by the archbishop of Avignon and fifteen other bishops, grants the indulgence for those contributing to the illumination and furniture of the Saint Michael Church. The construction was completed between 1442-1447, the old tower being built between 1511-1545. The tower that stands today was erected in 1862.

The church was converted, along with the local population, to Lutheran Protestantism between 1545-1566. Then the more radical Unitarian party took it over in the period 1566-1716. At last, it was confiscated in the counter reformation by the Catholic Church with the support of the Habsburg government.

The Baroque clock tower was replaced in the 19th century by a new one, built in Gothic Revival style (1837-1862).

Events

Some important historical events that took place in the church:

Description

The west portal is decorated with the three coats of arms of Sigismund as King of Hungary, as King of Bohemia and as Holy Roman Emperor.

The oldest of its sections is the altar, inaugurated in 1390, while the newest part is the Gothic Revival-style clock tower, which was built in 1837-1862 and replaced a Baroque predecessor.

  • General view from SE
  • Church with Baroque tower (replaced by 1862)
  • Church and city square (1840, Josef Hofreit)
  • Baroque gate into churchyard (west)
  • Church with adjacent buildings, new tower under construction (1850)
  • The 19th-century neo-Gothic tower
  • Matthias Corvinus Monument (1902)
  • The entrance (west portal)
  • The three coats of arms of Sigismund I on west portal
  • The interior
  • The vaulting system
  • Restored fresco remains
  • Glass window: Archangel Michael with Quis ut Deus? inscription
  • Glass window: Crucifixion of Jesus
  • Glass window: Jesus blessing a sword
  • Glass window: Roman soldier (Resurrection?)
  • Glass window: Confession of Peter
  • Glass window (1893): Mary and infant Jesus; below: Saints Astrik and Emeric of Hungary
  • Glass window: Young Jesus in Joseph's carpentry shop
  • Relief (1957): Descent from the Cross

See also

References
  1. "10 lucruri pe care nu le ştiai despre Biserica "Sf. Mihail" din Cluj-Napoca". Buna Dimineata. 2 June 2015.
  2. "Biserica Romano-Catolica Sf.Mihail - Cluj-Napoca". Ghid Video Turistic. 14 October 2020.
  3. "Cluj-Napoca, Biserica Sf. Mihail". Welcome to Romania.
  4. József Lukács, Levente Várdai (2005). Povestea "oraşului-comoară": scurtă istorie a Clujului şi a monumentelor sale [The story of the "treasure city": a short history of Cluj and its monuments]. Biblioteca Apostrof. ISBN 9739279740.

(in Hungarian) Official page on the website of the diocese of Alba Iulia

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