Behold the New St George Church. Here rests Constantin Brâncoveanu a name whispered through centuries. He was Prince of Wallachia from 1688 to 1714 a time of constant conflict between great powers. Yet Brâncoveanu prioritized his country’s cultural growth.
Brâncoveanu’s reign witnessed a flourishing of arts and letters. A printing press established in Bucharest churned out Romanian Greek Bulgarian Arabic Turkish and Georgian texts. He gifted Wallachia its first editions of Aristotle’s Ethics and other fundamental works. In 1694 he founded Bucharest’s Royal Academy the first higher school in Wallachia.
Imagine the vibrancy of that academy. Scholars toiled within its walls. Knowledge spread. But Brâncoveanu’s enlightened rule was short lived. His alliances shifting between the Habsburgs and Russia drew the suspicion of the Ottoman Empire.
The Sultan accused Brâncoveanu of plotting against him. Brâncoveanu’s immense wealth was seized. A terrible choice was offered: renounce his Orthodox faith or face death. His defiant words echo even now: “Behold all my fortunes are lost Let us not lose our souls.”
On August 15 1714 Brâncoveanu and his four sons Constantin Ștefan Radu and Matei faced the executioner. Their advisor Ienache Văcărescu shared their fate. Their heads paraded through Istanbul a horrific spectacle that shocked even the Ottomans. Their bodies tossed into the Bosphorus. Christian fishermen retrieved them burying them near the Halchi Monastery.
The legacy of Constantin Brâncoveanu lives on. His unwavering faith his commitment to culture his tragic end all cemented his place in Romanian history. He is a martyr saint revered in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. His remains lie here in this very church a testament to his enduring spirit. He lives on through the breathtaking Brâncovenesc style of architecture that graces churches and palaces. The style’s harmonious blend of local tradition Neo-Byzantine influences and Italian Renaissance innovation. The Hurezi monastery stands as a magnificent example of this unique style. Here at this church we stand at the very heart of his lasting influence. Remember Constantin Brâncoveanu’s legacy of faith courage and enduring love for his people.