“Manea Brutaru”. Does the name sound familiar? This is the story of the Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru, a historical monument right here in Bucharest. This church whispers tales of bakers and a changing city.
The Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru was founded in the late 18th century. Manea Brutaru, the leader of Bucharest’s bakers, was its patron. He built it. Manea Brutaru was the head of the bakers’ guild in Wallachia’s capital. The church carries his name to this day.
Originally, the area was known as Mahalaua Popa Radu. It was likely named after the first priest of an earlier church. By 1798, this small neighborhood had only 72 houses.
In 1787, during Nicolae Mavrogheni’s rule, Manea Brutaru constructed a stone church. It replaced an older wooden church that was built in 1777 or possibly 1761. The church’s inscription details that “dumnealor neguţători” Gheorghe, Ioan, and Manea built the holy place. It was built during the reign of Nicolae Petre Mavrogheni. The church is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God. It also honors Saint Nicholas and Saint Great Martyr George. In the churchyard stands a stone cross. Manea, “vătaf de brutari” erected it. It commemorates Gheorghe, Fotinia, and Ioan.
The Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru is small. It measures 26.25 meters by 10 meters. It features an enclosed porch. There is also an enlarged pronaos and a trefoil naos. The design reflects 18th-century Wallachian church architecture.
Repairs in 1858 added the shorter porch. The front part of the pronaos with the cafas was also added. The interior has a semicylindrical vault over the pronaos. A square turret sits above the naos.
The current interior painting uses oil. The walls feature panels with saint icons. The vaults display a “starry sky” motif. The facades retain the architectural style of the 18th century. Some Brâncovenesc influences are still visible.
In 1798, Prince Constantin Hangerli wanted to build an orphanage near the church. Sadly, his tragic and unexpected death prevented its completion. Later, in the mid-19th century, a school operated in the churchyard.
The neighborhood around Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru grew. By 1832, it included 14 innkeepers, confectioners, and cooks. There was also a miller, a furrier, a cobbler, a flour merchant, and a bagel maker. The most numerous guild consisted of carpenters, masons, and stonecutters. This group included 24 craftsmen. Nineteen of them were masons.
Streets like Manea Brutaru, Omul de Piatră, Neptun, and Soarelui formed the neighborhood. In 1871, the first tram line in Bucharest passed by Strada Manea Brutaru.
In 1910, Ion I. C. Brătianu opened a pub near the Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru. This event inspired a humorous caricature in the magazine “Furnica”.
After World War I, Strada Manea Brutaru was renamed after General Constantin Budişteanu. The old neighborhood modernized rapidly. Streets were paved. Sewer systems and public lighting were installed. Homes received running water. The dusty alleys of the 19th-century faded away. At the intersection of Calea Griviţei and Strada General Gheorghe Anghelescu a modern seven-story building appeared. A monument dedicated to the heroes of the Great War stood in front of it. The building still exists today. The monument disappeared sometime after 1945.
The Biserica “Sfântul Nicolae” – Manea Brutaru stands as a testament. It shows us the evolution of Bucharest. It reminds us of the people who shaped it. The bakers, the builders, and the leaders who left their mark on this city.