Located in Haţeg Country, at few kilometers far from Ulpia Traiana Sarmisegetusa, the capital of Roman Dacia, the Densuş Church (also known as St Nicholas' Church), is the oldest church in Romania in which services are still officiated. Some historians say that it was built on the ruins of a pre-Christian edifice in Dacia, others believe that it was built on the foundation of a temple dedicated to god Mars, many say that the church was initially a mausoleum dedicated to general Longinus Maximus that was killed by the Dacians.
Considering the tradition, it dates from the 4th century AD, and its present form dates from the beginning of the 12th century. The walls were built of bricks with Roman inscriptions, capitals, tombstones, sewerage pipes, blocks, marble, columns and sculptures taken from Ulpia Traiana. The pronaos, under the form of an "L", is uncovered, and guarded by four thick pillars covered with tombstones. The altar table is also made of a tombstone whose letters were deleted. Above, there are two lions that stay back on back. The naos is pierced by a tower.
The roof is made of stone plates. The mural paintings inside the church, on an ultramarine background, dates from the 15th century, and the painter who made it put a simple signature: Stefan. Baby Jesus, dressed in a Romanian popular outfit, and hold by Virgin Mary is represented on one of the pillars. Unfortunately, many paintings were destroyed by Reformists during Middle Ages. Specialists say that the church of Densuş could be a copy of Sân Nicoară Church from Curtea de Argeş.
About the stamp
The stamp is part of the series Holy Easter 2016, about which I wrote here.
References
Densuş Church - Romanian Monastery
Densuş Church - Wikipedia
Sender: Dragoş Cioroboiu
Sent from Deva (Hunedoara / Romania), on 28.04.2016
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