In the heart of Bucharest, near the intersection of Mihai Eminescu Street with Dacia Boulevard and Calea Moșilor, stands Saint Silvestru Church, a living testament to faith and parental love. Located on the street of the same name, at number 36, this church is an important landmark in the city’s spiritual and architectural history. Its name most likely comes from the Silvestru neighborhood, the area where Lord Pârvan and his wife, Stanca, built the first church in 1743. According to the monograph of Father Chiriac Bidoianu, the neighborhood already bore the name Silvestru, so the church inevitably adopted the same name.

Origins of the foundation

The story of the church’s construction is one of grief and devotion. Lord Pârvan and Lady Stanca, wealthy merchants with a shop near the Royal Court, were struck by overwhelming tragedy: the plague claimed all seven of their children. Wishing to honor their memory and leave a symbol of their faith, the two founders built a church in 1743. 

The original inscription reads: “With the will of the Father and the help of the Son and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this holy and divine Church was built… and it was built in the days of the Most Illustrious Lord Constantin V.V., with all the expenses of God’s servant Lord Pârvan and his Lady Stanca. 

May their memory and that of their parents remain eternal, in the year 1743, July 15.” This foundation remains a symbol of parental love and faith amid suffering.

Reconstruction in the 19th century

In 1836, the need for a new church became evident. The old building had been damaged by the earthquakes of 1802 and 1829 and had become too small for the growing community. Efforts to rebuild initiated by brothers Ilie and Dimitrie Stamatiu and other benefactors were interrupted by the 1838 earthquake, which destroyed the old structure completely. 

However, the initiative was quickly resumed, and a rectangular church with a central dome and a bell tower above the entrance was constructed, completed by March 15, 1839, during the reign of Alexandru Ghica. The inscription above the entrance notes: “…it was rebuilt as seen now, for the spiritual benefit and eternal remembrance of those who contributed…”

Renovations in the 20th century

The passage of time and the effects of earthquakes required new restoration efforts. At the beginning of the 20th century, protoiereus and trustees Ion Procopie Dumitrescu and Ioniță Filipescu, together with parish priest Chiriac Bidoianu, supervised the church’s reconstruction. 

The plans were designed by architect Dimitrie Maimarolu, and the execution was overseen by architect Paul Petricu. The inscription notes that the church, in its current form, was rebuilt and expanded between 1904 and 1907 under the reign of King Carol I and Metropolitan Primat Iosif Gheorghian.

Interior and painting

The interior was enriched with remarkable artistic elements. The iconostasis from 1839, crafted by master Chircol, was gilded and painted by Costin Petrescu, the leading painter of the era. The furniture, carved from oak by C. M. Babic in 1906, and the polychrome mosaic covering the entire church except the Holy Altar, were executed by Tomassini. 

The murals, in oil and neo-Byzantine style, reflect the refinement of the time and the spiritual grandeur of the place. The Pantocrator dome, damaged by the earthquakes of 1977 and 1986, was restored between 1997 and 1998 by parish priest Constantin Galeriu and painted by master Ion Grigorescu.

Architecture and construction materials

The church is an imposing building, measuring 30x13.5 meters, with two towers above the narthex and a large dome over the nave, inspired by the architecture of Curtea de Argeș Monastery.

The roofs of the towers and dome are semi-spherical with ribs and a cornice that follows the arches of the narrow windows. 

The main entrance features a wide porch with an arcade supported by Corinthian columns. Inside, the church impresses with two rows of painted columns, adorned with floral motifs and gilded capitals, supporting the longitudinal cylindrical vault. 

The nave has lateral semicircular apses, and the church is raised on a high stone pedestal crowned with an intricately ornamented cornice.

Bell tower and annexes

The bell tower dates back to 1860 and was rebuilt in neoclassical style in 1879, featuring a clock with four faces. Severely damaged by the 1977 earthquake, it was reconstructed between 1980 and 1983, preserving its original architecture. 

Surrounding the church are two parish houses, dating from 1908 and 1927. In the northern garden lie the graves of priests Gheorghe Georgescu-Silvestru and Constantin Galeriu, along with a Centenary Cross, carved in stone in 2007, marking 100 years of the church’s existence in its current form.

Liturgical objects and relics

The church holds numerous valuable items, including feast icons from the 19th and early 18th centuries, chalices, candle holders, an irmologion, and old Gospels. Its most treasured relic is a fragment of the relics of Saint Silvestru, Bishop of Rome between 314-335, set in a gilded cross. 

This relic was gifted to Patriarch Teoctist in 2002 by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar-general of Rome, and brought to the church on November 3, 2002. It remains a spiritual treasure for the parish community.

Significance and symbolism

Saint Silvestru Church is not merely a religious building; it is a symbol of parental love and unwavering faith. Built by Lord Pârvan and his wife in memory of the seven children claimed by the plague, it has been a place of prayer, reflection, and devotion for centuries. 

Its impressive architecture, neo-Byzantine painting, valuable liturgical objects, and relics of Saint Silvestru make it a true national monument and a symbol of the spiritual resilience of the Bucharest community.

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