“How did this small church survive such turbulent times?” a question many ask about Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi. Today, we stand before a testament to faith. It has endured centuries of change. Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi stands in the heart of Bucharest. It is a place where history whispers from every stone.
This church has a rich history. It is a story of resilience and devotion. Originally, a wooden church stood here in the late 17th century. Records mention it as early as 1680. Some historians believe the Floresti boyars founded it as a chapel. Their houses were nearby on the Dâmbovița River’s bank.
Back then, the Dâmbovița was a meandering river. It twisted and turned across the landscape. Today’s Calea Victoriei saw a sharp bend in the river. It approached Sfintii Apostoli Church closely. The river cut across Cilibi’s road between Sfintii Apostoli and Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi. It then flowed toward Curtea Veche. Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi was on the river’s left bank. Later, the river was channeled. This left the church on the right bank.
In the early 18th century, the church was surrounded by stone houses. Mitrofan the printer lived here. It is possible the church was also made of stone. These buildings and a nearby inn suffered damage in the earthquakes of 1802 and 1838. They were demolished in 1868.
Various rulers and boyars supported Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi. Ion Mavrocordat gave the monastery a shop in Bucharest in 1718. In 1742, Mihail Racovita allowed the abbot to take possession of Stan Barbierul’s house. This was because Stan did not honor his agreement with the monastery.
Constantin Mavrocordat dedicated Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi to the Patriarchate of Antioch. This happened in 1746. Between 1747 and 1748, he rebuilt the church from the ground up. He provided everything needed. Patriarch Silvestru of Antioch oversaw the construction.
An inscription commemorates these events. It is written in Greek, Arabic, and Romanian. It includes the ruler’s coat of arms. This coat of arms shows a bull’s head and a raven with a cross. The inscription notes the church’s dedication to Saint Spiridon. It mentions the building of surrounding structures for the glory of God.
Patriarch Silvestru personally painted the icon of Saint Spiridon. This icon included an older image from 1705. It was framed with scenes and depictions of the saint’s relics. Silvestru also painted the Akathist to Saint Spiridon. He inscribed it in Arabic.
The inscription asks for remembrance of Constantin Mavrocordat and his family. It calls for God’s blessing on the monastery. It hopes for its flourishing until the end of time.
Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi faced difficult times in the 20th century. Many churches in Bucharest were demolished. The demolition of Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi remains a painful memory.
In 1987, the church was destroyed. The destruction was swift. Precious objects were saved and taken to Cernica Monastery.
After 1989, the church was rebuilt on its original foundations. The original pieces were put back in place. This included the entrance portico, stone columns, and window frames. The reconstruction took place between 1992 and 1997.
Today, Biserica Ortodoxă Sfântul Spiridon Vechi stands as a symbol of faith. It is a reminder of Bucharest’s rich history. Remember its story of destruction and rebirth. Think about the dedication and the faith of those who rebuilt it.