Turismul ecumenic

 The Greek-Catholic Church of the Rățeștilor in Turda, with the dedication "Adormirea Maicii Domnului" (The Dormition of the Mother of God), is a church built by the Greek-Catholic protopope Basiliu Rațiu in 1839, financed by the Rațiu family, one of the prominent Romanian families in Turda. It was originally named after the Rațiu family, and currently serves as the Turda Veche Orthodox parish church. The church was built in Turda Veche in response to the lack of Greek-Catholic churches in the area. Before its construction, Greek-Catholics, including members of the Rațiu family, had to attend church in Turda Nouă. Basiliu Rațiu and his family funded the construction, along with the other members of the Rațiu family. The cemetery in the church's courtyard holds the remains of some members of the Rațiu family. The church was used by both Greek-Catholics and Orthodox until 1948, when the graves on both sides of the church were dismantled. After 1948, a new rectory was built on the former cemetery grounds. The funds for the church were mainly provided by Basiliu Rațiu and his brothers from their own resources, and from compensation awarded through a court decision against the illegal confiscation of the Rațiu family's properties in 1653 by Prince Gheorghe Rákóczi II. The first donation, after the re-attainment of the Rațiu family's nobility title and the confirmation of their right to reside in Turda in 1829, allowed for the purchase of land for the church, priest and cantor's houses, and the agricultural land necessary for their subsistence, as well as for cemeteries for both Greek-Catholic and Orthodox believers, as Romanians were not allowed to be buried in Turda before this.   The second donation, the monetary compensation, was the basis for the foundation in 1866 of the Eforia Cultural Fund. It allowed the council of the Rățești Church to undertake important work at the church, establish a fund that allowed young Romanians to pursue higher education, and fund the construction of the first Romanian denominational school in Turda Veche. The first president of Eforia was Dr. Ioan Rațiu, who was selected by the founder of Eforia, Prepozitul capitular, Canon Vasile Rațiu. Eforia operated until 1948 according to the provisions of the "Agreement" and Statutes. Over time, due to donations from Dionisie Sterca Şulutiu, Ana Câmpean, Agapia Micușan, and lawyer George Popescu, the parish of this church became the strongest in the city from a financial point of view, becoming the owner of the city's marketplace, the buildings surrounding the marketplace, the former "Elisabeta" hotel (the old Eforia palace), the new Eforia palace (G. Lazăr street, used as a bus station during communism), and the school built opposite the church (currently, one wing houses a kindergarten). In 1929, the Greek Catholic church already had electric lighting and gas heating. The first priest of the church was Gregoriu Rațiu (1840-1859). Then only priests from the Rațiu family or those agreed upon by the family served: Petru Rațiu (1860-1873), administrator of the protopresbyterate, protopop of Cojocna; Iosif Hossu (1873-1874), professor and canon in Blaj; Alexandru Pop Romanțan (1875-1901) and Nicolae-Portos Rațiu (1903-1932), honorary vice-protopop. The last Greek Catholic priest of this church was Dr. Coriolan Sabău (1932-1948), protopop of Bucharest and Turda, arrested by the communist authorities in 1948 for refusing to switch to the Romanian Orthodox Church.    In the cemetery of the church yard, some members of the Rațiu family are buried, except for Dr. Ioan Rațiu and Ion Rațiu, as the church has been used since 1948 by an Orthodox parish. Representatives of the Orthodox Church opposed Ion Rațiu's burial in the church built by his family, and therefore, the ceremony took place on the street during a freezing cold winter. Since 1948, when the church was taken over by the Orthodox cult, three valuable paintings of prominent members of the Rațiu family were stored improperly in a church warehouse (the paintings depict the Greek Catholic prebendary Basiliu Rațiu, the church's founder, the memorandist Dr. Ioan Rațiu, the first president of the Eforia, and the Greek Catholic protopop Nicolae Rațiu). Recently, the paintings were moved to the church library. On July 28, 2011, with the approval of Metropolitan Andrei Andreicuț, the Rățești Church font was consecrated, reconstructed after the original font disappeared in unknown circumstances after 1948. The monuments of the church's founders and main contributors, located in the church yard, were also consecrated. The resetting of the font was a historic recovery gesture. The church has been renovated several times. The current painting was made between 1965-1966 by Cornel Cenan from Cluj. On either side of the nave there are two mural paintings on the ceiling that depict the 12 zodiacs. On the left painting, six zodiacs are depicted (Sagittarius, Pisces, Libra, Scorpio, Cancer, Leo), and on the right painting, the other six zodiacs (Taurus, Aquarius, Capricorn, Gemini, Aries, Virgo) are depicted. In 1967, the carved oak wood iconostasis was made. Also in 1967, other works (archbishop's chairs, pulpit, tetrapod) were carried out by sculptors Aurel Sămărtinean and Grigore Frătean from Turda. In 1971, the exterior repair was made. 

  The Church Between Romanians, also known as the Church Among Romanians, is an Orthodox church in Turda. The temple has the dedication "Dormition of the Mother of God". In the mid-19th century, the Romanians built a stone and wood church in the hills, near the central cemetery. In this church, the Orthodox bishops Vasile Moga (the first Romanian bishop) and Andrei Baron de Saguna were elected in September 19, 1810 and December 2, 1847, respectively. In 1861, the old Church Between Romanians was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. After the great fire caused by lightning, a wooden church was temporarily erected, brought from Sălciua. Between 1861-1865, Orthodox Metropolitan Andrei Saguna instituted a public collection with which a new brick and stone church was built in the Între Români neighborhood, next to the Arieșului cliff. The church was built by master Patița from Câmpeni. The new church (located on Sirenei Street No. 17, corner with N. Vlăduțiu Street) was rebuilt in the form of a ship, between 1861-1865. After only a few years, the tower collapsed and another one was only built in 1942, when a general repair was also made. In 1919, the interior painting was restored on the occasion of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria's visit to Turda, who also visited this church. The wooden iconostasis was carved by students of the Arts and Crafts School in Turda under the direction of master Chiș Alexandru. It was consecrated in 1948 by Bishop Nicolae Colan. In this church, Samuil Micu, a prominent representative of the Transylvanian School, delivered a great speech. 

  The first information about Pentecostalism in Turda dates back to 1940, and the first ordained worker was Brother Vasile Muntean, who opened the first church in Turda on Bihorului Street no. 2. Among the first Pentecostal families in Turda, we mention the following: the Deac family, the Trifan family, the Ticudean family, and the Chifor family. Alongside the children and young people from these families, others joined such as Anuța Rusu, Vasile Gârbovan, Mihăila Rusu, Ioan Crișan, Nicolae Urcan, and many others. The following ordained brothers who continued the work in Turda for decades were: Brother Petru Gheța, Brother Alexandru Deac, Brother Alexandru Kerekeș, and Brother Andrei Malnași. In 1972, work began on building the church at its current address: Avram Iancu Street no. 23, a building that was immediately remodeled after the revolution. In 1973, when the church already had around 200 members, the church choir was organized, and later in 1976, instruments for the brass band were purchased. With the help of the Lord and the involvement of Brother Vasile Bordea and his colleagues, the church enjoyed a beautiful musical work. After the revolution, starting in 1990, the Pentecostal movement in Turda developed greatly and as a result, other churches were opened in different locations in the city. Today, in Turda, there are 7 Pentecostal churches, 4 of which are formed from the Romani brothers. The mother church, on Avram Iancu Street no. 23, is called "Biserica Alfa și Omega Turda" and in the last 20 years, it has been pastored by Mircea Deteșan. Alongside him, a beautiful team of servants has formed who care for nearly 20 local churches. 

  The Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia is an impressive place of worship that was built between the years of 1992 and 2002. This building was designed and constructed according to original plans, with attention to detail and using superior quality materials, so that it would serve the Pentecostal community of Philadelphia for generations. With a capacity of 1260 seats, the church provides a generous space for gatherings of the faithful. Currently, approximately 500 parishioners attend the weekly services to meet with God and enjoy His presence among them. This number continues to grow as more people discover the church and become part of their spiritual community. The church provides a friendly and home-like environment for its congregants, with a loving and united atmosphere. With people who care for one another and a dedicated staff, the Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia is a place where people can find the peace and encouragement they need in their lives.    In addition, the church organizes a variety of activities to meet its members and help them develop spiritually and socially. From Bible studies to community events, the church provides opportunities for members to connect with God and others. In conclusion, the Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia is a landmark for the pentecostal community in Philadelphia. Through its construction with original plans and the attention paid to detail, it offers a welcoming and safe environment for the faithful, where they can meet God and enjoy his presence among them. 

 The Reformed-Calvinist Church in Turda Noua was built between 1500-1504, on the site of an earlier church built between 1311-1340. It is listed as a historical monument in the county of Cluj by the Romanian Ministry of Culture in 2015. There was already a Romano-Catholic church on the site in 1179, but it was destroyed by the Tatars in 1241. According to tradition, the Romano-Catholic church was rebuilt by King Carol Robert of Hungary in honor of St. Ladislau in the early Gothic style. The early Gothic style was modified to the late Gothic style during the 1504 restoration, which can still be seen today.  The sanctuary and sacristy are in the late Gothic style, while the consoles are in the Empire style and the bell tower is in the Baroque style. The church was built by the same team of builders who worked on the Romano-Catholic Church in Turda Veche. The church is a hall-type church with a polygonal altar, a sacristy, a porch, and a bell tower. The north and south facades, and the choir, are supported by massive buttresses. The church is plain and lacks decorative elements. The main entrance is on the south side, under a semi-cylindrical vault supported by a double arch. The windows have simple frames without decoration.    In the 15th century, a fortified wall of elliptical shape was built around the church, 4-5 m high, with 6 semi-circular bastions and a square bastion (the square bastion was also the residence of the bell ringer). The wall was reinforced with buttresses at 4-5 m intervals. Only one of the semi-circular bastions remains today ("The Parcalab Tower"), inscribed with the year 1870. The square bastion, which serves as the entrance to the courtyard ("The Entrance Tower"), has also been preserved. In the northwest wall, the remains of a portal in a broken arch can be seen, and next to it the inscription: RENOVATUM ANNO 1740 TEMPORE CURATORIS KOMIVES. In the 16th century, the church changed from Roman Catholic to Reformed-Calvinist worship. The church suffered damage during the military conflicts of 1600-1601. In the 18th century, the main ship of the church was restored in the Baroque style with stuccos. The church's exterior was renovated in the years 1969-1972. Bilingual plaque On the southern façade of the church, a plaque with a bilingual text (in Latin and Hungarian) is embedded. The Latin text and its Romanian translation: Pax facet divitias (Peace brings prosperity) Divitiae superbiam (Prosperity brings pride) Superbia contemptum (Pride brings contempt) Contemptus bellum (Contempt brings war) Bellum paupertatem (War brings poverty) Paupertas humilitatem (Poverty brings humility) Humilitas pacem (Humility brings peace) 

  The Reformed Calvinist Church in Turda, Poiana neighborhood, built in the 15th century, is listed on the historic monuments list of Cluj county, compiled by the Ministry of Culture of Romania in 2015 (LMI CJ-II-m-B-07790 code). The church was probably built in the 15th century. Only the tower, the entrance on the western side and the stone grating from the windows have survived from the original medieval inventory. The spire and the nave roof are newer. On the southern wall there are four arched windows from the 19th century. The text "RENOVATED 1789" is inscribed on a stone vault, the year the church was renovated. The interior was redone in 1997, when the faithful gave up their old furniture. Only the crown of the pulpit and the organ are original. During the restoration works, the old frescoes, even the coffered ceiling, disappeared. 

  The Reformed-Calvin Church of Old Turda (in Hungarian: Ótordai Reformatus Templom) is the oldest preserved monument in Turda, located in the center of the city, at 1 Hașdeun Street, near Republic Square, the former lapidary and the History Museum. The Reformed-Calvin Church of Old Turda is listed on the list of historical monuments in Cluj County, compiled by the Romanian Ministry of Culture in 2015 (code LMI CJ-II-m-A-07793). The original church The first church on this site was Roman Catholic, built in the 14th century with the patronage of St. Mary. This church is mentioned in an old papal tax registry from 1332, as being led by priest Peter from "Antiqua Thorda" (Old Turda). The building of the first church consisted of a hall with a tower (located on the south side) and a choir located on the east side. The current church The current building was built at the beginning of the 15th century during the reign of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg (1387-1437), also sovereign of the Kingdom of Hungary, on the site of the old church. The church was designed in the Gothic style, with a single aisle, 26 meters long, 8.5 meters wide and 16 meters high. Initially it was longer, with 5-10 meters, having the usual choir/altar towards the east (respectively towards Republic Square), with cross-shaped ogival arches, which was demolished during the construction of the fortification (the church no longer fit inside the defensive walls, being placed crosswise to the fortress; the choir/altar had to be sacrificed by 5-10 meters; this explains the unusual and unsightly appearance of the east facade of the church, lacking the choir/altar and the original Gothic portal). In place of the demolished choir, a bell tower was erected in the 17th century on the new fortification wall, which collapsed in 1862 (the foundation gave way).    The 60 meter tall Clock Tower (the emblematic symbol of the city of Turda) was built between 1904-1906. The west and north facades of the church are the most aesthetically pleasing. The west facade, with its entrance framed by an ornate portal, has elements typical of Gothic style from the beginning of the 15th century. In the axis of the west facade is a portal, finished in a broken arch. The western portal is decorated with oak leaf motifs. The north facade features five buttresses and a secondary portal (permanently closed). The interior of the church was damaged in a fire in the 17th century. The interior decoration is mostly the result of subsequent renovations. The church (originally Roman Catholic) was converted in 1564 (to this day) to the Reformed-Calvinist confession. Fortifications around the church After the great Tatar invasion of 1241 and the devastation caused to the city of Turda by subsequent Tatar and Turkish attacks, defensive fortifications were built in the following centuries around the three main churches in the city: the Roman Catholic Church, the Reformed-Calvinist Church in Turda-Veche and the Reformed-Calvinist Church in Turda-Noua.

  The Roman Catholic Church in Turda was built between 1475-1504, on the site of an older church, documented as early as 1342. The current church is dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God. In the Middle Ages, it had as patrons Saint Nicholas and Saint Martin. The church is listed on the list of historical monuments of Cluj County, compiled by the Romanian Ministry of Culture in 2015 (code LMI CJ-II-m-A-07800). History The church was initially surrounded by annex buildings, dependencies, and a protective wall. At the current stage of research, it is impossible to specify the location of the first church, its planimetry and masonry structures. However, numerous graves destroyed by the foundations of the current church, coins found here, issued in the 14th century and in the first half of the 15th century (Carol I Robert de Anjou [1288-1342], Sigismund de Luxemburg [1387-1437], Vladislav I [1440-1444], John of Hunedoara [1446-1456], Matthias Corvin [1443-1490]), as well as fragments of fresco discovered, indicate an older place of worship, whose existence ended in the second half of the 15th century. It is not excluded that some fragments of the old church were used in the current building, as suggested by the situations captured in the interior section and in one of the exteriors. Inside the parish building of this church (Republic Square No. 1), two of the keystones of the old Roman Catholic church, demolished in the 15th century, are embedded in the walls (one of them bears the sign "Keys of St. Peter" from 1472, and can easily be confused with the very well-known coat of arms of the Vatican). The current church is a well-integrated building, with foundations from the nave, choir, and sacristy raised in a single stage. The materials used were medium-sized quarry stone, large stone slabs brought from the Roman fortress of Potaissa, processed medieval stone waste, and reused stones from the previous construction. All of these were placed in approximately regular beds, leveled with small stones and fragments of Roman bricks. The mortar is of good quality, hard, made of sand, clay and ceramic pigment. The foundation is partially built and partially drowned in mortar. The elevation is delimited by a prominent string course, both inside and outside.  The church was built in Gothic style, with originally 3 naves. The main nave, oriented east-west, has a length of 50 m and a width of 18.20 m. The altar has a length of 20.2 m. It suffered significant damage after being attacked by Giovanni Battista Castaldo in the 1540s, Giorgio Basta in 1602, General Tiege in 1706, and the battles between the Csángós and Lipps in 1703-1711 (events recorded in the church's archives). Initially, until 1568, it belonged to the Roman Catholic cult, then, between 1568-1721, to the Unitarian cult. In this church, the establishment of the Unitarian Church was proclaimed in 1568. On the right wall inside the church, there is a commemorative plaque written in 3 languages (Hungarian, Romanian, English) which reminds of this significant event. After 1721 (after the Catholic conquest of Transylvania), the church was returned to the Roman Catholic cult and transformed into a Baroque style. The church used to have 2 towers, which were demolished during the Baroque renovations in the 18th century. The main tower was placed exactly where the entrance to the church is now and was demolished after being damaged by several lightning strikes. It was not rebuilt (the church does not have a tower at present). The main entrance to the church passed through and under this tower [1]. The other tower was smaller and it is not known exactly where it was located. The church was (until the 18th century) surrounded by 2 m thick and 12 m high defensive walls. During the restrictive periods (especially during the invasions of the Tatars and the Turks), the fortified church provided refuge for the threatened population (most people took refuge in the heavy periods in the Turzii Gorges). Remnants of these old walls could still be found in the 20th century behind the two-story house near the church, on the south side (towards the square). The fortification gate was demolished during the construction of this two-story house, which used the material from that gate. The walls were built exclusively with stones brought from the Roman castle (like many of the buildings in Turda, such as the Tribunal, the former City Hall). A strong fire affected the building in the early 19th century, when the burning roof caused the collapse of the choir and nave arches, seriously damaging the interior of the church. This was followed by a reconstruction in a neo-baroque style, with the introduction of strong independent pillars, separate from the Gothic structure. The new beams of the nave and choir were covered with Bohemian domes. On the exterior, a number of Gothic elements have been preserved on the church facades, except for the west facade, which was also done in a neo-baroque style. Some original elements and traces of elements have also been preserved in the church's roof. The works, as shown by the inscription above the entrance, were led by the master builder Francisc Lek and the carpenter Francisc Szentmiklósi, and were completed in 1822. The symbol of the rose The Roman Catholic Church reluctantly accepted the rose as one of the Christian symbols at first, due to its use in pre-Christian rituals, especially in the celebration of love gods. Over time, due to its thorns, the rose became a symbol of the sufferings of Jesus, with the red rose signifying martyrdom. The Roman Catholic Church in Turda also hides this symbol. On the statue of Jesus on the right side of the church, the sculptor created a barely visible cross on his shirt. In the center of the cross is a heart, and at the base of the cross is the symbolic rose.

  The Franciscan Roman Catholic Church (in Hungarian "Ferences kolostor") in Turda, at 49 Avram Iancu street, was built between 1735-1737 by Franciscan Observant friars, as part of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. The church's main worship is "St. King Ladislaus" (in Hungarian "Szent László király"). Next to the church is an old Roman Catholic monastery (currently non-functional), built between 1540-1550. History: After the integration of Transylvania Principality into the Habsburg Empire through the Peace of Karlowitz (1699), the imperial policy of the Vienna Court aimed to facilitate the return of Roman Catholic orders expelled from the Transylvanian cities that have adopted Protestant Reform. This was intended to strengthen the Roman Catholic religion to ensure a link between the different countries of the House of Habsburg. The establishment of Franciscan friars in Turda was supported by Roman Catholic believers in the Turda New neighborhood. In 1735, they bought the Gyárfás estate on the Cluj road from the Gergelyffy József and Kovács Zsuzsanna couples, on which they built the St. Ladislaus church. This ensured the definitive establishment of the Franciscan friars in this part of the city. In 1951, the friars were deported to Communist labor camps. The last member of the order, Father Izidor, took care of the building until his death in 1994. In front of the church is a crucifix from 1895. On the base of the crucifix is inscribed "Facta est 1895" (“Made in the year 1895”). 

  Right near the Turda Salt Mine, the Church of the Salt Cutters majestically raises its towers. It is also called the Church of the Salt Cutters, because its name comes from the Hungarian language, "só" meaning salt and "vágó" meaning cutter, being from the beginning the place of prayer of the miners from the Turda Salt Mine. The story dates back to 1467, when King Matei Corvin crushed a plot of the nobles from Cluj and Turda and it is said that he appointed Miklos Olah, his Romanian-related uncle, as prefect of the Salt Mines in Transylvania, with headquarters in Turda. He allowed the Orthodox Romanians from the Turda Salt Mine to build their own church, near the Salt Mine, under the condition that they work in the salt mines. The Church of the Salt Cutters, built of wood, was erected on the salt mine land. After 1700, the church became the seat of the Greek-Catholic confession and the protopope of Turda. A few years later, in 1709, it was rebuilt by the Greek-Catholics. 200 years later, in 1948, the church was confiscated and given to the Romanian Orthodox Church, which renovated it in the Byzantine style  

  The Unitarian Church of Turda (in Hungarian, A Tordai unitárius templom) is a historic and architectural monument located in the city of Turda. History The buildings at 1 Dacia Street (formerly the Unitarian Gymnasium) and 3 Dacia Street (the Unitarian Church) used to form a harmonious architectural complex. Initially, in 1589, the Unitarian School was built on this site, during the birth of Unitarianism. In 1568, the Unitarians took over the Roman Catholic Church at 54 Republic Square, but they were forced to return it to the Roman Catholic cult in 1721. After 1721, the Turda Unitarians temporarily used a wing of the Unitarian School at 1 Dacia Street as a place of worship until 1784, when construction of the current Unitarian Church began (1784-1797), parallel to the reconstruction of the Unitarian School and the Unitarian Gymnasium. The church was built by the master mason Janos Sandor from Moldovenești (Varfalău) in Cluj County. The interior of the church was finished in 1797. The church was built on the site of an old Unitarian School. Part of the school building was demolished in 1801 to make way for the church tower, built between 1801-1809. On the wall of the church annex building (where the Unitarian Gymnasium used to be located), there is a quadratic plaque with the Latin inscription: MUSIS ET VIRTUTIBUS SACRUM MDCCCLXV (Sacred to the Muses and Virtues 1865). The church was repaired in 1828, 1890, 1903 and 1946. It was renovated to a greater extent in 1903, according to the plans of architect Lajos Pakey. The Turda local councilor Iosif Pataki managed in the 80-90s of the 20th century to impress with his wooden sculptures. His most important achievement was the decoration of the interior and courtyard of the Turda Unitarian Church with fine wooden objects. Since 1984, when the decoration of the church began, Iosif Pataki has created over 60 wooden works, from candelabra to paneling and artisanal tables. One of his most important achievements is the dome of the pulpit, which has the Unitarians' credo inscribed on the frontispiece: Egy az Isten - Unul este Dumnezeu - Unus est Deus – God is One. 

  The Orthodox Cathedral in Turda (with the patron saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel) is located on Andrei Saguna Street No. 2, with the main entrance facing December 1, 1918 Square. History It was built in memory of the great Voivode Michael the Brave by the General Enterprises "Tiberiu Eremia", based on the plans of architect Ioan Traianescu. The work was also made possible by donations from the Aries Bank, the Orthodox Women's Society, various businesses, and private individuals. The architecture is a blend of the styles characteristic of the three historical Romanian provinces. The plan is in the traditional cross shape. The cathedral was consecrated on November 3, 1935 by Bishop Lucian Triteanu of Roman. In 1955, it was declared an architectural monument, one of the architectural gems of the city. The building was constructed as a cathedral, with a capacity of 1,200 people and is located in the center of the city. The land on which the cathedral was built was purchased from the Turda City Hall represented by Mayor Iuliu Gențiu, according to the attached purchase-sale agreement (see "External links: Purchase-sale agreement land"). The cathedral's history includes the name of the founder, Protopop Iovian Mureșan, who served as the shepherd for 38 years under whose leadership the cathedral was built, painted and consecrated. His remains are honored under the altar. The cornerstone was laid in 1926, and the work was completed in 1935. A characteristic of this building is the bell tower. It has an Oltenian saddle shape and resembles the one at the Orthodox Cathedral in Alba Iulia. The icons of the iconostasis were painted by the painter Paul Molda (1884-1955), and the interior of the building by Gheorghe Belizarie. The furniture, iconostasis, pulpit, archbishop's thrones, stands, tetrapods, chairs, were made by Professor Aurel Pop from Tg. Mures, ornamented with sculpted grapevines, stylized angels and acanthus leaves.    One unique thing is the presence in the Cathedral of an icon of the Virgin Mary with the Baby, to which the faithful pray. The icon was brought from Bucharest at the beginning of the 20th century and carried in procession through the city, by oxen. Some testimonies claim that this icon is quickly useful to women who cannot become pregnant. It is also worth mentioning the presence of an icon with the face of the Savior, which has on the reverse the inscription: "Donated by a family from Basarabia, torn from the bosom of the fatherland. Pray for them!". Due to time, war, smoke from candles, the entire ensemble required restoration. In 1986, the interior was restored by a team led by the painter Dimitrie Banica from Bucharest. Later, the exterior was also restored. On the left side of the cathedral entrance, there is a painting of King Carol II in the uniform of a mountain hunter general, with the mantle of the "Order of Michael the Brave". The painting was revealed during the restoration work. On an exterior wall of the cathedral, a projectile from the 30s is embedded. The projectile is deactivated, harmless, but nobody knows why it was built there, in the wall of a house of worship. 

  The Mihai Voda Monastery in Turda is becoming an increasingly important pilgrimage site for Christians from all over the country, who come to both worship the monastic settlement guarded by the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel and to commemorate the great voivode Mihai the Brave, whose death took place on the Turda plain in 1601. Almost 40 years ago, a monument was erected in honor of Mihai the Brave, where every year military and religious officials conduct the Parastas for his soul. Starting in 2016, the year when the 415th anniversary of Mihai the Brave's death was celebrated, the celebration at the Mihai Voda Monastery was moved to the new Gregorian calendar, which is used in the Romanian Orthodox Church. Thus, while we used to commemorate the voivode's death on August 9th, now it is commemorated on August 19th, according to the new calendar. 

  The Turda Synagogue was a Mozaic Orthodox (unreformed) place of worship located in the city of Turda (Cluj county), located at 24-28 Mihai Eminescu street. It was built between 1921-1926. Currently, due to lack of worshippers, it is non-functional. Building The synagogue is a distinctive building in the city, built in an eclectic style with some Moorish elements. The walls are made of plastered brick. The southern and northern facades are identical, each with 2 lions in bas-relief, the lion symbolizing the tribe of Judah. The hall was naturally lit through numerous windows on the ground floor and on the upper floor. The entrance was on the west facade, with the building oriented from west to east, with the apse, where the Holy Ark (Covenant Ark) was located, facing east. A black plaque with biblical commandments (Tablets of the Law) was displayed above the cornice with the Ark. The space around the Ark, slightly raised, was separated from the hall by a large semicircular arch. The bima, or the podium from which the Torah was read, was located in front of the Ark (you can still see traces of the posts today). Stairs led to the women's galleries on the upper floor.  The synagogue was built between 1921-1926, in place of an old prayer house. In 1946, the auxiliary buildings of the synagogue housed the parish and the rabbi's residence, the community office, the servant's dwelling, and the night shelter for the poor. The slaughterhouse and butcher shop were located behind the synagogue. An even older prayer house, of which no trace remains, was located where today the city hall is located at 28 December 1st Square. The Jews of Turda mainly belonged to the Orthodox Mosaic current, with very few belonging to the Neolog Reform current (unlike the Jews of Cluj). Mihai Eminescu Street was the old nucleus of the Jewish neighborhood of the city. The Jewish population numbered 175 people (48 families) in 1866; 203 people (2.1% of the city's total population) in 1870; 326 people (3.5%) in 1900; 482 people (3.5%) in 1910; 852 people (4.2%) in 1930 and 726 people (2.2%) in 1940. The number of people increased to 1805 in 1942 after Jews from surrounding areas were concentrated in Turda. After World War II, the community continued its activity, but its institutions lost their importance as the Jewish population declined as a result of emigration to Israel and other parts. Approximately 150 Jews still lived in Turda in 1971. The community was led by rabbis, including Ben-Zion Albert Wesel (1900-1938) and Joseph Adler (1938-44). These two played a leading role among the Orthodox Jews of Transylvania. The Synagogue (Beit Kneset) was the gathering place (beginning on Friday evening, after 6 PM, which marked the start of the Sabbath[1]) of Jewish faithful for the performance of prayers and the loud reading of sacred scrolls called Torá. The benches in the synagogue were arranged so that the faithful faced Jerusalem. Only men sat on these benches. The wall facing Jerusalem had the Holy Ark and the pulpit. In the center of the synagogue was a stage with a table, on which the sacred scrolls (Torá) were spread out. Behind the benches was a gallery for women, as in synagogues women always sit separate from men. The last mosaic service was held here in 1986 (at least 10 men are needed to hold religious services in synagogues). Currently, only a few Jews live in Turda (at most 10 people). The synagogue is currently empty and abandoned, the interior benches were sold in 2000. The exterior walls are currently well preserved. In the list of synagogues in Romania published in the work "Seventy years of existence. Six hundred years of Jewish life in Romania. Forty years of partnership FEDROM – JOINT," edited by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania in 2008, it was stated that the Synagogue in Turda was no longer in use. [2]