It tells the story of Calafat's Greeks, of the wars fought on the Danube and of the family Henri Coandă descended from.
About the place
The church was built between 1864 and 1874 by Calafat's Greek community, funded by the merchant Hagi Panait Theodoru and his wife Ana. Their portraits, painted in Vienna, hang on either side of the entrance, and two marble plaques list the donors. The founder's daughter Theodora married Mihalache Coandă; their son Constantin Coandă was the father of the inventor Henri Coandă.
In 1877 the church served as an observation post and telegraph station for the Romanian artillery, so it became a target for shells fired from Vidin, which destroyed its tower. On 26 August 1944 a shell fired from German ships moving up the Danube exploded inside and destroyed part of the vaults and of the iconostasis. The church stayed closed for 30 years, until the last Greeks in town handed it to the Metropolis of Oltenia; it reopened in 1974. It is a listed historic monument.
Good to know
- At the entrance, look for the founders' portraits and the plaques with the donors' names.
- The riverfront and the Debarcader gazebo are about 200 m away, towards the Danube.
- Go in between services and keep quiet; it is an active parish church.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.