Built in 2005 the Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Brâncoveanu Berceni” stands proudly. Its story is one of perseverance and faith. This wasn’t a church built overnight. For years a smaller church served the Berceni neighborhood. It was a humble structure inadequate for the growing community.
The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Brâncoveanu Berceni” began as a dream. A dream of a larger more fitting place of worship. It started in 1992. The community yearned for a new church of brick and mortar. A replacement for the old dilapidated structure. The need was apparent.
Many petitions were submitted. Many requests were made to local authorities. Finally in 2002 the city allocated land. A plot of 2000 square meters at the intersection of Bulevardul Constantin Brâncoveanu and Strada Huedin. The land acquisition wasn’t simple. A lengthy legal battle ensued. The parish didn’t own the land initially. They had to pursue a usucapiune process. A legal process to claim ownership through long-term use. This process lasted over a year and a half. The church was the first in Bucharest to gain land ownership through a court ruling.
The construction itself was no small feat. Architects Gabriela Iamandi and engineer Rusca Constantin designed the impressive church. The brothers Catalin and Gheorghita Bultoc of the Meridian Group financed its construction. They bore the entire expense of the project. Their generosity and dedication earned them the title of church founders. A title conferred by Patriarch Daniel himself.
The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Brâncoveanu Berceni” stands tall today. It’s a testament to the unwavering faith of its people. A beacon of hope in the heart of Berceni. A place where history devotion and community intertwine. The church is not only dedicated to the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen. It also honors Saint John the Russian. A detail many visitors may not know. This beautiful church deserves to be visited. It’s a story etched in stone. A story written in faith and perseverance.