Located in Burzenland, Prejmer fortified church was initially Roman Catholic, but became Lutheran following the Reformation. Around 1211, King Andrew II of Hungary permitted the Germanic Teutonic Knights to settle around Prejmer, where they began constructing a church in 1218, in Gothic style. They were responsible for the Greek cross plan, the only one of its kind in Transylvania, but found in a few churches in northeast Germany. Following their expulsion in 1225, the Cistercians, who took over in 1240, finished the church.
The triptych altarpiece, the oldest in the province, dates to around 1450; the main panel is joined to side panels painted on both faces, on two levels. The entire piece depicts scenes from the Passion of Christ. A bell tower was added above the center of the church in 1461. The Greek cross shape was modified between 1512 and 1515. The interior is simple and does not have traces of frescoes, while 19th century paintings were removed during restoration.
When Ottomans or other invaders would break through the Buzău Pass, Prejmer was the first place they encountered; the village was destroyed over 50 times between the 13th and 17th centuries, while the church was only rarely captured. Due to this strategic position, the church was strongly fortified in the 15th-16th centuries. The circular walls are up to 5 m thick and reach nearly 12 m in height. Other defensive features include five towers and a battlement. On the interior side of the wall, there are four levels containing rooms and storage space and backed by the battlement.
Prejmer fortified church is part of the UNESCO WHS site Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania, about which I wrote here.
About the stamps
The first stamp is a 8-cent Christmas postage stamp issued on November 7, 1973. The traditional stamp features a detail of a painting of Madonna and child by Raphael. This stamp was designed by Bradbury Thompson, and was issued in sheets of fifty, with an initial printing of one billion.
The second stamp is part of the series Christmas Carols, about which I wrote here.
About the third stamp, depicting Santa Claus, I don't know anything. Probably is a vignette, because it don't have any inscription.
The last stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate), is also a Christmas one, which features a detail of Madonna and Child, an oil-and-gold-on-panel painting by Italian Renaissance artist Francesco d’Ubertino Verdi (1494–1557), known as Bachiacca. Dating from the early 1520s, the painting is part of the Jack and Belle Linsky Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. William J. Gicker served as art director for this stamp, issued on October 3, 2018, and Greg Breeding was the designer.
References
Prejmer fortified church - Wikipedia
Sender: Denise
Sent from Babylon (New York / United States), on 23.12.2019
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