Church of the Prophet Samuel, Focșani

The Church of the Prophet Samuel (Romanian: Biserica Proorocul Samuil) is a Romanian Orthodox church located at 28 Mare a Unirii Street in Focșani, Romania. It is dedicated to the Prophet Samuel.

Church of the Prophet Samuel

The church in 1893

The church ktetor was Constantin Racoviță, Prince of Moldavia; it was built in 1756 on land donated by a painter. The Chronicles of the Land of Moldavia mention an earlier wooden church on the site. The church gradually became part of a monastery complex, surrounded by a stone wall. In 1789, it offered shelter to Russian and Austrian troops during the Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791).^[1]

The cross-shaped church, in Wallachian style, has a porch, narthex, nave and altar. The square spire sits atop the porch. It is decorated with semicircular arches around its windows, and is accessed by a wooden staircase. The facades are divided into two registers by a row of stone. The lower section is decorated with three-lobed arches and columns. The upper features rectangular frames with circles inside. The door stands out in sharp relief.^[1]

The church and its wall are listed as historic monuments by Romania's Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.^[2]

Notes

1. (in Romanian) Description at the Focșani tourist office site
2. (in Romanian) Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2010: Județul Vrancea Archived 2018-12-15 at the Wayback Machine

45°42′15″N 27°11′08″E