A trip to Oradea will allow you to discover this charming Baroque church, renowned for the unique lunar mechanism placed on the high bell tower.
The Church with the Moon owes its name to an eye-catching sphere that moves with the phases of the moon. Once inside, admire the beautiful iconostasis and frescoes and don’t forget to spend some time at the tombs of important bishops. Piaţa Unirii, one of the city’s main squares, is a must-see.
The church was designed in the late 18th century by architect Iacob Edner, with funds collected from the local community, and consecrated in 1832. The 55-metre-high steeple is adorned with a characteristic lunar mechanism by master watchmaker Georg Rueppert, consisting of a 3-metre sphere painted half black and half gold. It makes one complete revolution every 28 days, following the rotation of the moon around the earth.
The church can boast a rich collection of artistic works, including paintings by the Romanian painter Paul Murgu and the Serbian brothers Alexandru and Arsenie Teodorovici. Completed in 1831, the works have been restored several times during the 20th century.
In the iconostasis there is also the portrait of Horea, one of the leaders of the revolt that broke out in 1784. The painting on display is, however, a copy. The original is in fact kept in the Bishop Orthodox Museum of Oradea. Also noteworthy are the tombs of several important bishops, as well as those in which many founders of the church rest.
