“A candelă of plastic?” In 2023, the news buzzed about a fire at Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului”. But amidst the smoke and concern, whispers of a miracle arose.
Today I will tell you a story about the Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului”. It stands at the intersection of Șoseaua Mihai Bravu and Bulevardul Basarabia. Yet it is set back offering a peaceful space away from the traffic. This church is one of Bucharest’s grand religious buildings. People also call it “Parcul Calarasi” or “Bariera Vergului”.
The story of this Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” begins in 1938. The “Parcul Calarasi” parish needed a place to worship. Initially a small chapel was set up in a room of the Spitalul de Copii “Vergu”. Constantin V. Sarbu the first parish priest and Dr. Victor Gomoiu helped found the chapel. Gomoiu was the hospital director.
The current Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” owes its existence to Marshal Ion Antonescu and his wife Maria. Construction spanned from 1942 to 1949. Preot Constantin Sarbu and Dr. Victor Gomoiu guided the project. Locals from the Bariera Vergului area also assisted. Architect Gh. Naumescu designed the church. Spiridon Nicolau and Aurel Beles oversaw the construction.
Even though unfinished the Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului opened on April 17 1949. Mitropolit Nifon Craioveanul consecrated it. Many priests attended including paroh Constantin Sarbu. Eremia Profeta painted the interior from 1962 to 1964. Patriarch Justinian and preot Constantin Nichita supported this work.
In 1988 there was a plan to demolish the Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului”. The communist regime wanted to reorganize Piața Muncii. Luckily the regime fell. The church was saved. Preot Radu Dumitru and preot Ioan Protopopescu renovated the church from 1999 to 2002. They repaired the interior and exterior. Also they cleaned the paintings. They added portraits of the main founders. The basement got waterproofing and the heating system was updated.
The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” is a large structure measuring 32 x 17 meters. It has a basilica plan with three naves. Its design was inspired by the Sfantul Nicolae Domnesc Church in Curtea de Arges. The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” is a creation in the Neoromanesc style.
The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului’s structure is made of reinforced concrete and brick. Originally the roof was made of olar but it was replaced with sheet metal in the 1960s. Services were held in the basement from 1943 to 1949. Today the basement stores church books.
Entering the Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” requires climbing ten steps to reach the western facade. The entrance is through an open porch. The porch has three front arches and one arch on each side.
The Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului’s painting was restored in 2002 by Elena Vasilescu. Valentin Tanase added portraits of Maria and Ion Antonescu and preot Constantin Sarbu. These portraits are on the west wall of the naos. They are next to the portrait of Patriarch Justinian. The icon of Sfanta Parascheva is made of mosaic.
At Biserica Ortodoxă „Sfinții Împărați Constantin și Elena – Bariera Vergului” the repetition of the number 3 is significant. It recalls the glorification of the Holy Trinity. The hrisov at the church’s foundation states its purpose. It says it stands as a testimony to the sacred bond between the church and the nation.