Ever wondered how a neighborhood’s spiritual needs shape a church? We are standing before Biserica Ortodoxă Dudești Cioplea II. This church carries the name of the Dudești Cioplea neighborhood. It is located on the southwest side of Camil Ressu Boulevard behind the four-story buildings A11 and A18.
Biserica Ortodoxă Dudești Cioplea II was built between 1952 and 1957. It was made for the spiritual needs of the parishioners. These people lived in the Dudești Cioplea commune. This commune existed before the systematization and construction of the new blocks in the Balta Albă neighborhood.
Pr. Ianuli Stere bought a plot of land of 2500 square meters. There, he built a chapel. It looked like a regular house with a roof. The roof had four slopes and was covered with sheet metal. The chapel was about 120 square meters. The work was completed in 1957.
In 2000, the Parish Council decided to build a real place of worship. This was because of the needs of the new neighborhood with many parishioners. The initial space was enlarged, transformed, and modernized. The new building has dimensions of 29.80 X 10 meters. The height is 4.5 meters from the eaves and 9.5 meters at the top of the two turrets. These are fixed on eight pillars and six apparent beams inside. They are covered with natural oak wood paneling and lacquered. The interior which includes the nave and the altar is equipped with new furniture. It is all made of lacquered oak wood.
Currently, PC. Pr. Tronaru Gheorghe and PC Pr. Stancovici Costel serve at the altar. They pray for their parishioners. Biserica Ortodoxă Dudești Cioplea II is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God. The parish itself was established in June 1950. Initially, a chapel was set up in a private house on Istriei Street. Services were then held in the current church. The church’s construction was between 1956 and 1957. The parishioners were led by the first priest of the parish, Sterie I. Ianuli. He was appointed on November 1, 1950.
The church was built by craftsmen from Bolintin, Ilfov County. The parishioners also volunteered. The works were supervised by the architect Gheorghe Ceara and the engineer Ștefan Popescu. They also prepared the project for a simple architectural building. It was made of load-bearing masonry on a foundation. It had reinforced concrete floors and was covered with zinc sheet metal.
Starting in 2000, during the parish of Father Constantin Popa, the church was enlarged. An apse with twelve pillars was added. Also two towers. All this happened through the efforts of the parishioners and the engineer Marian Dragomir. Biserica Ortodoxă Dudești Cioplea II stands as a testament to faith. It shows how a community can come together to create a sacred space. It evolved from a simple chapel to the church we see today.