Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

The Name of the Touristic Attraction: The Church in Titerlești

Location: in Titerlești, Baia de Aramă Locality, Mehedinți County, at 72 km from Drobeta Turnu Severin. The church is located near the road connecting Baia de Aramă to Baile Herculane.

Description: The parish church in Titerleşti is dedicated to “Saint Voivodes Michael and Gabriel “and it is declared a historical monument. On the spot where the church is built, there were no previous buildings. The church was built with the help of the inhabitants of Titerleşti and Bratilov villages, between 1862-1863, during the priest Iordache Constantin, painted on the right-hand wall at the entrance to the church, together with the priestess Floarea and their son, Constantine. It is a church founded in the time of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, through the contribution of the Hungarian families who had settled in Bratilov and Titerleşti, at that time. They had come from Transylvania, from Poiana Sibiului and since they settled in these places, decided also to build a church. The church was built with the help of the Serbian craftsmen, whose leader is painted at the entrance to the porch. A painting which years ago used to be found in the porch of the church, but which does not exist today, represented a shepherd of sheep, a clear sign that people have been in these places for years. What seems amazing about this church is that such a construction was completed in just one year, but unfortunately there are no documents to elucidate this aspect. However, there is a document that was kept in the church, framed by priest Predescu, on September 9^th, 1982, in which he writes that the church was built of stone, with thick walls of 1 meter and that it has the form of a ship. The old church bell was hidden during the war and has not been found since. The locals believe that someone in the village told the Germans where the bell is, and they took it and melted it. The current bell of the church was brought by the ex-mayor of Orzeşti Commune (Titerleşti used to be part of this commune too), for whom the bell was tolled for the first time at his death. In the narthex, together with the priest’s family, during which the dwelling was built, are also painted all of the church builders, dressed in folk costumes. They are painted in traditional costumes, whose details can easily be distinguished. It is one of the few churches that has painted within it all its founders. One of the founders appears painted with 3 hands. It may have been the painter’s mistake, but this issue has not been exempt from many questions that arise even today in front of the painting. There are some painted wood icons in the church, dating from 1909 -1910, which have an intense blue background, just like the famous blue of Voroneţ. So far, it has not yet been discovered with what kind of paint they are made of. On the sides of the church are painted St. Prophet John and the Emperors Constantine and Helena, probably dating from the end of the 19th century, when the church was painted. In the nave of the church, on both sides of the thick walls, there are two framed paintings in which the heroes of the First and Second World Wars are mentioned. The diaconal doors of the church have recently been replaced with doors carved with the motif of the vineyard, having on the upper side, The Archangels Michael and Gabriel, painted in the vivid colors. The old doors were framed and placed at the entrance to the church in the porch, as they have preserved quite well.

Information and Contact: 

The church is in the administration of the Episcopate of Severin and Strehaia:            phone: +4 0252 333 048, +4 0252 333 039,

e-mail: secretariat@episcopiaseverinului.ro

website: www.episcopiaseverinului.ro

Route close to other Themetic Routes:

In the area you can also visit:

 –        The House of Memories – museum house of the singer Nina Predescu

–           Holy Voivodes Monastery, in Baia de Aramă, founded by Constantin Brâncoveanu

–         The Black Water Bridge – on D J 670 at the intersection with D.N. 67D, over the Motru River

–           The Churches in Brebina Village

–           The Old Church in Pistrița Village

–           The Statue of Constantin Brâncoveanu, Baia de Aramă

–           Artesian fountain Parallel 45, in Baia de Aramă

–           The Protected areas “Cornet Hill” (Dealul Cornetului)

–           The Statue of Tudor Vladimirescu

–           The 12 Buckets Fountain near the church, in Baia de Aramă

–           Falling asleep of the Virgin Mary Church in Pistriţa Village

–           The Ore Storage in Brebina Village

In the area you can also visit:

–           Dochiciu Hill

–           Bulba Cave

–           Ponoarele Commune with all the touristic attractions in the area

–           Isverna Commune with all the touristic attractions in the area

Other useful information

Events in Baia de Aramă:

1. Baia de Aramă Days and National Folklore Festival “Mountain, Mountain, Beautiful Tree” – organized in the first part of September
2. “Holidays are Coming” Festival – December 18^th -20^th

 GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 45.0233266, 22.804154400000016, elevation: 326 m