Biserica Ortodoxă „Dichiu”

Tucked away on Icoanei Street, the Biserica Ortodoxă “Dichiu” whispers tales of Bucharest’s past. The Dichiu–Tirchilești Church, as it’s formally known, isn’t easily dated. No cornerstone or inscription reveals its exact birthdate, but we know it existed by 1773. Its very name hints at its origins. “Dichiu” refers to Deoghen, the church’s administrator, and “Tirchilești” likely points to his assistant, Tirchilă. The surrounding area, once the village of Tirchilești, became part of Bucharest by 1789. Imagine the Biserica Ortodoxă “Dichiu” then, a quiet monastery for a small group of monks, before the city grew and embraced it as a parish church. In 1880, the church expanded, gaining a wooden dome. Further repairs followed in 1898 and 1903. The vibrant frescoes that adorn the interior weren’t added until 1949–1953. The exterior received a fresh coat of paint in 1955. The Biserica Ortodoxă “Dichiu” sits on a small rise, measuring 22 meters long and between 6 and 10 meters wide. Its cross shape is punctuated by polygonal apses, an octagonal dome over the nave, and a square bell tower above the narthex. Atop the tower, a small roof lantern, held aloft by four slender columns, supports a cross. While interior columns were removed, the once-open portico is now enclosed by masonry, creating a flat facade with small pylons at each end. The exterior has seen many changes. The original string course is gone, replaced by arches on the lower level and medallions above. Icons of Saints Peter and Paul flank the entrance, while two rows of seven saints each, surrounded by floral decorations, grace the space above the entrance. Among them, you’ll find the icon of Saint Nicholas, the church’s patron saint. Inside the Biserica Ortodoxă “Dichiu,” a restored Gospel Book and relics of several saints, including Paraskeva of the Balkans, Stephen, John the New of Suceava, and the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, are displayed in a silver hand reliquary. The church stands as a testament to its enduring presence, a historic monument recognized by Romania’s Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.