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The Ghost Church of Goiesti, Vogna - Archive to end 2012
Raport Goiesti 23.10.2012
DRAFT PROIECT BISERICA SECOL XIX Vogna
DATE GENERALE
Tinta proiectului o constituie protectia si reabilitarea ruinelor bisericii de secol XIX din comuna Goiesti, judetul Dolj, punctul Vogna.Acest proiect corespunde nevoilor acute ale comunitatii locale si, intr-un sens mai larg, ale poporului roman, de a-si gasi in trecutul sau istoric si in cultul sau o motivatie de raspuns in fata provocarilor prezentului si a insecuritatii viitorului.
Daca, in esenta, protejarea unor ruine (de orice tip ar fi ele) este un lucru firesc pentru patrimoniul spiritual si material al poporului roman, revitalizarea acestor ruine pana la rangul functionalitatii anterioare este o provocare si un simbol care dinamizeaza constiinte si satisface nevoi spirituale neimplinite inca.
Repunerea in functiune a ruinelor bisericii de la Vogna apartine in exclusivitate ca initiativa si proiect ONG Alexis Project, care isi asuma prin prezenta drepturile de autor la data publicarii documentului, dar, in mod firesc, este un model de colaborare cu autoritatile locale, Muzeul Olteniei Craiova si autoritatea ortodoxa, care pastoreste acest tip de asezaminte.
Draft Project Vogna XIX Century Church
General Information
The project goal is the protection and rehabilitation of the nineteenth century church ruins Goiesti village, Dolj County, Vogna point.
This project corresponds to the acute needs of the local community and, in a broader sense, the Romanian people to find the past history and worship, motivating answer today's challenges and future insecurity.
If, in essence, protection of the ruins (of any type they may be) is natural for the spiritual and material heritage of the Roman people to rank these ruins revitalization previous functionality is a challenge and a symbol that stimulates consciousness and meet spiritual needs yet unfulfilled.
The restoration of the ruins of the church at Vogna belongs exclusively to the Alexis Project NGO initiatives and projects, which assumes copyright in this document publication date, but, naturally, is a model of collaboration with local authorities, the Museum of Oltenia Craiova and Orthodox authority, such as those of the clergy.
The Ghost Church of Goiesti, Vogna
This Ghost Church of the Goiesti region was once the religious and cultural and societal hub of a district which had the wealth to erect it and pay for its fittings and paintings, and for priests to conduct services here.
When the village became poor for whatever reason, and the people moved away, the wooden houses soon collapsed, decayed and disappeared, but the church, being made of fired brick, still survives, though it is now in a parlous state of disrepair.
It bears mute testimony to the people who once supported it, but who have now disappeared.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
The Ghost Church of Goiesti, Vogna - Archive to end 2012
Alexandru's visit to Vogna
It was very cold, with some snow on the ground when Alexandru Gheorghe, Adrian's son, came to visit Vogna Church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th December 2012
Adrian inspected the building, to make sure that his improvements were still in good order.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th December 2012
Alexandru was impressed with the progress that had been made on the Bordei Project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th December 2012
Vogna Valley at the end of Autumn, Part Two
Adrian worked hard to complete the iron supports which will help to stabilise the walls of the church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th November 2012
He also completed painting the bordei with sump oil to protect it from the weather.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th November 2012
Much work was also done on the inside of the church, to make it more beautiful.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th November 2012
Vogna Valley at the end of Autumn
It is the end of Autumn in the Vogna Valley, but Adrian was still working there, trying to improve the site. It was a foggy day, cold and dark, but beautiful.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2012
The Bordei is waiting for final improvements, including sump oil on the walls as well as other things.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2012
The concrete belt around the church is ready, as well as the iron bars to fix the walls of the ruin.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2012
Vogna Valley Improvements
Adrian's plan for an external belt to fix the ruin's walls.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th November 2012
It is almost the end of the year 2012.
The weather is cold, very cold, and cloudy, as well as being windy and wet. There is mud everywhere.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th November 2012
Still we are working.
The concrete belt around the altar of the ruins of the church is now ready, and the church has been improved in condition.
The iron rods and pieces are already made by the Mayor, Atanasie Adam and are ready to hold the walls of the ruins together.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th November 2012
The wooden info-point needs only a new Romanian flag on the roof, because our National Day is almost here, on the 1st December.
The wooden Bordei is also ready, a beautiful replica from the 18th century.
We strongly believe that for this year we have finished our tasks, and I have a feeling that, perhaps at the end of the year the wooden structure to protect the Pronaos (the inner area of the portico) will be made, the money given by… we do not know yet!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th November 2012
Vogna Ruins Wooden Roof Draft Project
Proposed roof for Vogna Church by Alexandru Gheorghe, Std.in Arh.,Bucharest
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th September 2012
Putting a roof on Vogna - Day Five
Finally, after five days of work, the first section of the wooden roof, covering the ruins of the Ghost Church of Vogna is ready!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th September 2012
Putting a roof on Vogna - Day Four
Today we finished the wooden part of the roof, and tomorrow we try to cover it well.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 14th September 2012
It was difficult, but not so much as to make as give up on making it!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 14th September 2012
Putting a roof on Vogna - Day Three
The budget for this section of the project is $1000 USD, being $500 for materials, and $500 for labour.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 13th September 2012
The project aims to protect the walls, not by being in contact with them, but by the use of a wooden cage inside the space of the altar, which supports the roof, which in turn protects the altar and the walls around it.
This is not easy, because the ruins are of all dimensions and levels, and are very sensitive to any impacts, but… the method is working!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 13th September 2012
Putting a roof on Vogna - Day Two
The wooden roof over the Vogna ruins is gradually taking shape, though the work is hard, long, and costs a lot.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 12th September 2012
But tomorrow is another day!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 12th September 2012
Putting a roof on Vogna - Day One
Alexandru came from Bucharest, ready to make a draft project for the future wooden roof covering of the Vogna ruins.
This will protect the inner part of the ruins from rain and snow.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th September 2012
The plan is to make it in three stages, because of the lack of resources to make it all at once. Tomorrow we will start on the section to cover the Altar of the ruins.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th September 2012
Cleaning the environs of Vogna
A very hot summer is ready to burn everything in the Vogna valley. Because of this, we have cleaned up the area around Vogna church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 9th August 2012
The Final Cleaning of the Church itself
At last the Vogna Ghost Church ruins are cleaned. More than 90 tons of broken bricks, dust, and the remains of farm animals have been removed.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 2nd August 2012
The church is now able to survive and to be an inspiration for all who visit this monument.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 2nd August 2012
The Large Pot
The trunk of the tree which was damaging the foundations of the church has now been replaced, after cleaning the roots of it, and continuing to clean the entire space within the walls of the church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 4th July 2012
A large and beautiful piece of pottery from ancient times was found during the process. It is now with the Mayor of Goiesti to form part of a small museum at the Goiesti town chambers.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 4th July 2012
The Tree
Adrian writes:
It is now warm here in Oltenia at the start of July. The gypsies have broken down the door to the wooden tourist info-point for the fourth time, and took a lot of things such as tools and other things.
We do not have the financial resources to make things better, but we continue our path to improve my peoples heritage above all.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st July 2012
Inside the ruins of Vogna, there was a tree, as there is also in another ghost church, Vladimir, in the same municipality of Goiesti, Dolj County. This tree pushed with its roots under the still standing walls, and had to be removed.
Even though it was difficult, we removed the tree, cleaned the area and intend to put it again in place, fixed to the floor still to be constructed, to remember its story in the future. Tomorrow will be another day like today, we do not have resources, but we continue to be part of rebuilding the glory of the past of the Romanian people, as simple soldiers in the pursuit of the health of our patrimony.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st July 2012
Even after the tree was removed, there was much cleaning up and relevelling of the floor to be done.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st July 2012
The remaining tree roots had to be cut away, and the floor returned to a level condition.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st July 2012
Easter at Vogna
Adrian writes:
It was very cold and cloudy weather, with rain and a strong wind, a hard spring for Easter.
For the second time, I and the Mayor from Goiesti village, went to Vogna to celebrate the Romanian Easter.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th April 2012
I did not intend to allow the Vogna ghost church to be alone on such a special night, so I opened the wooden tourist info point, and put candles everywhere, waiting for midnight.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th April 2012
The Mayor, Eng. Adam Atanasie brought 'light' from another church which is still functioning as a place of worship in Goiesti village, so we were four Christians - me, Adam Atanasie, his son Adrian, and a young man from Goiesti, around the church showing to God that even men can have a heart, a mind and a body for the beauty of Heaven.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th April 2012
It was very dark in Vogna valley, a huge silence around us, even the ghost church was silent and sad, but we strongly believe that there can be a better future, if people understand that a country without a past has no future.
We wish to all our Alexis Project friends, The best for you, your happiness is ours!
"Christos a Înviat ! - Christ is Risen!"
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th April 2012
Vogna in Spring
Adrian was in the Vogna area, because unknown people broke in for the second time at the wooden door of the info point, so he had to make repairs.
While he was there he took some photos of the church and the info point with a new camera.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 30th March 2012
The church has not suffered significant damage from the hard winter, and the info point is now repaired.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 30th March 2012
The Church Endures
Here we can see the amount of snow which has drifted down from the heavens, to fall on Vogna, within the protected area of the walls of the old church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th February 2012
The additions in the form of seating and the Information Point have survived the onslaught of the weather.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th February 2012
Vogna Church endures, as it always has.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th February 2012
The snow has fallen, but the spirit of Vogna lives on.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th February 2012
Alexandru and Adrian have faith that Vogna can continue to survive. They have great heart, and hope for the future.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th February 2012
Creating a wooden monument
Adrian had a dream of creating a monument to all the destroyed churches of Oltenia, a small wooden church.
Here we see the team, with the important help of the Mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie working in the Vogna valley to finish the first step for the future wooden monument, the foundation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th October 2011
It was very hard work, but finally the foundation of the future monument was finished.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th October 2011
Second Day
Even though the weather was cold, and there was wind and sometimes rain, on the second day further progress was made on the wooden monument.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 16th October 2011
From the neighbouring hill we can more clearly see the progress made.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 16th October 2011
The team of Adrian and Negutz Ionutz, Amelia's husband, together with the help of the Mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie, finished the project of constructing the foundation, and also put in an Altar stone, and made a few tests on the structure in preparation for raising the walls of the monument.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 16th October 2011
Third Day
Adrian and Ionutz cut holes in the wooden floor of the future Information Centre for tourists, a wooden monument for all the churches in need of restoration in the Oltenia area.
The holes in the floor are for posts to support the walls and roof of the Information Centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th October 2011
Fourth Day
Now the structure was ready to accept the posts and beams. Adrian delivered the wood in his vehicle, and the work began.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th October 2011
Gradually the structure took shape, and it was possible to see how the information point for tourists would look in three dimensions. Always a structure such as this looks tiny until you put the wall structures up!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th October 2011
At this point, the main structural members of the information point were in place.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 29th October 2011
Fifth Day
Adrian and the other workers arrived at the site to start putting up the roof trusses.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 30th October 2011
The weather was cold, with high clouds.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 30th October 2011
A lot of progress was made. The nearby hill provides a good spot to see the overall excellent results.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 30th October 2011
Sixth Day
Adrian and the other workers were working again on the roof and walls of the Information Centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 5th November 2011
It was very cold weather, but at least snow has not yet appeared!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 5th November 2011
Packing up at the end of the day.
The Information Centre has cost a lot of hard work and money, but it will be worth it when it is finished.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 5th November 2011
Seventh Day
Starting to put the tarpaper on the roof of the Information Centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th November 2011
The weather was cold, with wind and rain, which made the roofing task more difficult.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th November 2011
It is traditional to put a tree branch on the structure during this procedure.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th November 2011
Eighth Day
By this time the steps to the front door had been completed.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 7th November 2011
The day was cold, with cloudy skies, wind, and occasional rain, but the team worked hard to finish the first step for the wooden information centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 7th November 2011
With the first stage completed, and darkness coming on, it was time to pack up and go home.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 7th November 2011
Ninth Day
On this day Adrian was working with Ionutz on the Vogna wooden Information Point, under winter weather, a cloudy sky, cold wind and fog. They started putting oil on the wooden walls of the information point.
There have been mixed reactions to the structure. Some people say that it is very nice and interesting, others that it is not nice at all. Others say that they do not like the oil over the walls.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 26th November 2011
However, Adrian points out that it is an unconventional information point, and in the same way, it is a monument to all the destroyed churches of Oltenia, so it has to look this way, as a protest against the lack of sense of the people who have forgotten the most important monuments of the Mother Church, the churches themselves.
Finally, a lot of people, passing along the road, have made crosses with their fingers, which is progress of a kind!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 26th November 2011
Tenth Day
Adrian and the team members worked on the tower of the information point, as well as the large wooden cross on top of it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2011
Sometimes the footing was precarious!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2011
Finally all was ready for the wooden cross.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2011
And at last the cross is up!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 27th November 2011
Eleventh Day
The day dawned sunny and cold. The 1st December is the Romanian National Day, but still Adrian and his team are working at the Vogna tourist information point. 
After an evaluation by Alexandru Gheorghe, a gifted architecture student, a few changes were made to the wooden structure of the information kiosk, including some small changes to this detail of the roof, to improve its strength.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
Inside the Information Point, Adrian put in the Altar, a sculpture he made, called "Vegetable Jesus".
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
A huge wooden door was made by Adrian in the same style as the rest of the structure, which is not just a tourist information point, but at the same time a monument to all the destroyed and forgotten churches in the whole of Oltenia.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
Ionutz fixed the glass of all five windows of the Information Kiosk.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
The mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie was with us to celebrate the National Day of Romania. We put a Romanian flag on top of the Information Point, to mark the occasion.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
This is the end of the 2011 season, but as Adrian knows himself very well, he will be here again soon, even though it is December, to do more work on the project, because he cares.
La Multzi Ani! (Happy Birthday!) for the Romanian People, and a better future to come!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 1st December 2011
Twelfth Day
It was a cold day, with rain and wind. Adrian and his helpers were working on the tourist information point at Vogna.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th December 2011
Today the team was working on the tower, the floor and the roof, starting to finish the inside of the museum.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th December 2011
Every time Adrian finishes for the day, he says that this will be the last working day for the year, and every time he finds a good reason to go ahead!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 6th December 2011
Thirteenth Day
Although it was the middle of December, the Alexis Project is still working on the Vogna Information Point project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th December 2011
Ionutz and Adrian were working inside the wooden tourist Information Point for Vogna, making many things inside the structure:
An area with a small museum, showing all artefacts found in the Vogna area, in cooperation with the local Mayor of Goiesti.
An area with a lot of printed material, such as books, flags, maps, brochures and so on about the Vogna, Goiesit, Oltenia areas, and the countries of Romania and Bulgaria, since there is a good partnership with the Perpetuum Mobile Foundation from Pleven, Bulgaria.
A small area at the Altar, with small things such as candles, lights, smirna (incense), small icons to be given free for tourists who want to visitn the ghost church of Vogna or Gruita.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th December 2011
So, even though it takes a lot of time, a lot of materials and a lot of money, we want to continue to finish this information point, which will take another week or more, to be ready for visitors in the spring of 2012, when we want to continue the restoration of the ghost church from Vogna, even if it will be using private money.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 11th December 2011
Fourteenth Day
Today Adrian started to make the Vogna Info-Point into a resource for tourists, with maps, candles, artefacts, flags, books, CD/DVDs etc.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th December 2011
Step by step, and there is still a lot of work to do there, the Info Point from Vogna evolves from a simple dream into reality.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th December 2011
It is now well on the way to becoming a monument to all destroyed churches in Oltenia, and an Info Point for tourists of the Vogna Valley.
This is another private project of Alexis!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 15th December 2011
Fifteenth Day
It is now past the middle of December, the rain is coming down hard in the Vogna Valley, and worse, there is cold, fog, and a strong wind.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
Adrian, Roxy the jumping frog, and a paid worker from the Goiesti Village, Mishika, are trying to finish the roof in the front part of the wooden Info Point, to protect the room from snow, wind and rain. After a few hours of work there, they are ready to come back again, to do more for this private project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
Sixteenth Day
Finally, today, the wooden Info Point from Vogna is almost ready, with a museum area containing Vogna artefacts, an information documents area (maps, books, newspapers etc) and also an area for the Vogna ghost church, with candles and icons.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
On Tuesday, Adrian has invited the Mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie, as well as media reporters (newspapers and television), friends, and all Bulgarian friends, having the opportunity to invite Miss Gabriela Antonova, Perpetuum Mobile Foundation, to open the Info Point in the name of Romanian Bulgarian friendship, and looking for future cooperation in EU projects for both countries.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
As well, local and county authorities will be invited. It will be a real event, secret until now!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
It is Adrian's idea to do this event in Vogna, and people around the world wish him well. He is trying to show everyone what can be done, when you are a project maker, a project writer, and a wonderful speaker!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
All is in readiness for the big day!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th December 2011
The Opening - the Big Day!
The celebrations began at the Goiesti Community Hall, where the Mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie, and Dr Adrian Gheorghe welcomed the large crowd of people who had come to celebrate the opening of the Information Centre.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
The celebrations continued at the Information Centre near the Vogna Church, where the crowd assembled for the official opening.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
The ribbon was cut by the official important guests.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
The Mayor of Goiesti, Eng. Adam Atanasie, Miss Gabriela Antonova of the Perpetuum Mobile Foundation from Pleven, Bulgaria, and Dr Adrian Gheorghe of Filiasi, displayed the EU, Bulgarian and Alexis Project flags.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
At the Vogna Church itself, Dr Gheorghe made a speech to describe the efforts to maintain and restore the neglected church, and the visitors came in to see the wonderful things that he and his co-workers had achieved in such a relatively short space of time, with hard work and private funds.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
The guests then walked up the hill to a nearby shelter where the celebrations continued.
Although the weather was cold and foggy, there was no snow, and there was a fire ready to warm the guests at the shelter.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
Refreshments were set out on a long table. Dr Gheorghe can feel very proud of his hard work in restoration of the church, building of the Information Point, and preparation for such a very successful opening.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 20th December 2011
Additions to the Information Point
It is almost the New Year, but Alexis is still working on the Vogna area, despite the very cold conditions, with frost coating the fence and branches near the Information Point.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th December 2011
With these beautiful icons covering its walls, Vogna wishes all its friends a Very Happy New Year!
When you feel that love is missing from your life, come here to Vogna Valley and be bathed in the love that is here!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 28th December 2011
Improvements to the Information Point
The wooden tourist info-point has been protected from the weather with further coats of oil.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 8th January 2012
Much more has been done to improve the inside of the info-point, including pictures about the Vogna ghost church, as well as candles, books, flags, icons and artefacts.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 8th January 2012
Updates to the Information Point
Adrian has been working hard to prepare the Vogna Infopoint for tourists, to enhance their experience at the site.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 21st January 2012
The trusty Dacia, seen through the door of the Information Point. It has carried huge amounts of material, and taken Adrian and his colleagues many thousands of kilometres in service of his country.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 21st January 2012
Altering the apex of the Information Point
It was decided to change part of the wooden roof and tower of the Information Point, to make it more weatherproof. No doubt there will be similar improvements as time goes by.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 21st March 2012
It was a beautiful sunny spring day, and it was good to be alive and doing good things for Romania.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 21st March 2012
It should be noted that an ordinary information point made by a construction company would have cost €200 000, but the total cost for the info point to this time is €2 500. Half of this came from donations, the other half was donated by Dr Gheorghe. The mayor of Goiesti village, Dolj County, Eng. Adam Atanasie was very helpful throughout the construction of this important info point.
Repairing and Protecting the Vogna Church
Even though it is autumn and the weather is cold, with a cold wind, cold rain, and a cloudy sky, the Alexis team are working on the Vogna Ghost Church area, trying to repair and protect the ruins there.
Here Adrian is repairing a window, while the important new concrete sill surrounding and protecting the foundations of the church may be seen at his feet.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 8th October 2011
In cooperation with the Mayor of Goiesti Municipality, and with the important help of the Mayor, Eng. Adam Atanasie, we are working in the Vogna Valley to make an interesting area here for future tourists, helped also by Miss Gabriela Antonova, with her consulting company from Bulgaria, with access to European Union funding for the project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 8th October 2011
This is an important image which gives an accurate rendition of the dimensions of the church, by the talented Architecture student at Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism "Ion Mincu", Bucureşti, România, Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru.
Photo: Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru, 26th November 2010.
This image and the ones below are important proposals to show methods by which the church may be preserved for posterity by the talented Architecture student at Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism "Ion Mincu", Bucureşti, România, Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru.
This is Proposal Alpha.
Photo: Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru, 1st December 2010.
This is Proposal Beta.
Photo: Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru, 1st December 2010.
Artist's impression by Alexandru Gheorge of the original church roof.
Photo: Gheorghe Adrian Alexandru, 28th December 2010.
This image details some of the important levels of the project to restore the 19th century Vogna Church:
1. To tie the external and interior walls of the church together with steel rods in the upper part of the walls, to stabilise the structure.
2. To dig a trench around the church and fill it with steel reinforced concrete to stabilise the foundations.
3. To lay a reinforced concrete floor inside the church.
4. To install a reinforced concrete "ring" on the tops of all the walls to stabilise the whole structure.
5. To install a waterproof wooden shingle roof.
6. To construct the central wooden tower of the church.
7. To install a wooden ceiling for the church to complete the structure in an appropriate manner.
At present there is no money to complete these important structures, but we have a lot of reason to do so: we care!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
The ancient inscription in the Romanian Cyrillic script on this sandstone tablet, is apparently part of the original construction. The church dates from the 19th Century. The date shown at the end, 
is a transcription error by the stonemason from the text provided by the Priest, it should read 1824.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
With the huge help of Mr Aurelian Popescu, a very good specialist in Paleonthology, from Oltenia Museum, as well as the important help of the chief of the historical section of the Oltenia Museum, Mr Toma Radulescu, we now have a translation of the stone script from the 19th Century Vogna Church.
The translation into modern Romanian is:
Sfantului (Sfintei) Treimei
ridicatu-s-au aceasta sfanta biserica cu
hramul Adormirea (Maicii Domnului) în zilele
cu cheltuiala dumnealui Jipa (cu sotia)
veliki (mare) pitar impreuna (cu sotia) spre pomenirea dumnealor
in zilele luminatului Grigore Ghika voievod
cu blagoslovenia Preasfintiei Sale episcopului Ramnicului Chesarie.
1824.
Or in English:
In 1824
The Holy Trinity
Have raised this holy church,
Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary,
Built by the gentleman Jipa with his wife,
And in memory of this important baker and his wife,
During the days of the enlightened King Grigore Ghika,
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Chesarie of Ramnic.
King Ghika was ruler of the Tzara Romaneasca, (literally the Romanian Country) the southern part of what is now Romania, between the Danube River, the Black Sea coast and the southern Carpathian Mountains.
Bishop Chesarie was the regent of Ramnic, an area around the Olt River.
This is the Romanian Cyrillic script for the Lord's Prayer, about the 1850s. The Romanian Cyrillic alphabet was used to write the Romanian language before 1860–1862, when it was officially replaced by a Latin-based alphabet. Cyrillic remained in occasional use until circa 1920.
Photo and text: Wikipedia
Goiesti Documentation
Goiesti documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th April 2011
Goiesti documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 18th April 2011
Repairing Vogna Church
In cooperation with the Mayor of Goiesti Village, we started to clean the altar of clay and broken bricks, and began work on the windows.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 26th September 2011
The windows were fixed into position after being repaired.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 26th September 2011
The main pillar of the altar has been put in its old place, and a trench was dug around the church for a concrete sill to better protect the structure.
It was hard work, but with good results, as can be seen here.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 26th September 2011
A search for an ancient cemetery
The Alexis team was in the Vogna ghost church area to search for another ancient cemetery belonging to the church, about 1.4 Km to the north of the church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd July 2011
There was a hill at the destination, with a huge forest on it, as well as a kind of small field on top of it, and wells around the hill, a very clear area for an ancient site.
Perhaps because there were a lot of trees in the area and a lot of grass, there were few pottery fragments to be found, and there were no wooden crosses placed in the deep forest.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd July 2011
Data for the area indicates that there were in the Vogna valley ancient villages as well as three cemeteries, one to the north, one close to the eastern side of the church, and another to the south, about 1.5 Km from the church, which has not been looked for yet.
The GPS points of this new site are:
44.53770N, 23.76203E, A=247
44.53718N, 23.76274E, A=236
44.53537N, 23.76020E, A=204
44.53443N, 23.76061E, A=199
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd July 2011
A Middle Ages Map of the Church!
On this day, the Alexis team was working on the road to connect the ghost church of Vogna with the main road between Goiesti and Balota, in the Vogna valley.
Adrian climbed to the top of a nearby hill to the west, and saw that it was like a beautiful Middle Ages map, with our dream right in the middle of this wonder-valley, as can be seen in these photographs.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 8th May 2011
Adrian wants to restore the church so that everyone can see the realisation of the dream, and if you want something enough, it can be done!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 8th May 2011
A special night in Goiesti Church
In Romania on Easter Saturday at midnight, everyone goes to church for the Mass of the Resurrection, known in Romania as Paste. Everyone lights candles and walks three times around the church. After Mass, people return home with lighted candles and make the sign of the cross on the door of their house. This candle is kept all year round and is lit during storms to protect the house against lightning. There is also a custom to keep a red egg and put it outside when it hails, to stop the hail from damaging the crops.
Adrian celebrated this night, when Jesus Christ came back to life, in his own ceremony of the Resurrection, known in Romania as Paste.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd April 2011
Adrian writes:
I believe this is a very special night, and wanted to be far away from those who eat, drink, and make a lot of noise, so I decided to be, this night, inside the ghost church from Vogna.
I was there all day, working and digging at the road from the main road to the church building. In the evening I put candles at the main wooden cross in front of the church, also at the ancient grave, perhaps of a priest, near the church building. I put four candles in the Altar room of the ghost church, two candles in the main entrance of the ghost building, and lit a huge fire in the church yard, to be, on this special night, with the spirit of this old church, after perhaps 100 years of dead history, until the Alexis team decided to bring this church back to life. I felt I must be near it all the night.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd April 2011
The night was very cold in the Vogna area, it was very dark, no moon in the sky, just a lot of stars. Between the hills and forests were a lot of wild dogs, crying all the night, as well as a lot of birds making noises during the night. With me was Roxy the toy frog, as well as the Mayor of the Goiesti area, Ing. Dipl. Adam Anastasia, a wonderful man. We stayed there, round the fire, all night, together, talking and making projects for the future, to protect the churches in the Goiesti area and to open this treasure to tourists from everywhere.
At midnight, the Mayor and I lit candles and took them into the Goiesti Church to bring light to the priests who used to be here, and we put more candles around the church, as is the custom on this special night.
Tomorrow we start work again on the road to the church. It was a wonderful night such as dreams are made of, and with the right attitude much can be done.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd April 2011
Protection of the Goiesti Church
Even while the church is being cleaned, it is important to protect it and warn visitors about the real danger when someone visits this very damaged building.
The Alexis team has made a fence and put up signs to warn people of the danger.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd April 2011
More work on the Goiesti Church
Alexandru and his friend Adriana, Adrian and Alina went again to the Goiesti area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2011
They worked on cleaning up the area, making a main road to the church, and also visited other targets in the area.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2011
Adrian discussing his vision for the monuments of Romania with Adriana.
Photo: Alexandru Gheorghe 15th April 2011
Vogna Church Altar Room
Adrian and Alina went with Alexandru to show him the progress on Vogna Church, with the long fence and the clean up of the inside of the church and the grounds around it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2011
This is the back of the icon.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2011
Lighting candles.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th April 2011
Protection of the Monument
Adrian and his co-workers have built a long fence around the area, of 250 metres in length, to protect the entire area. Markers were put on the fence posts, to warn visitors about the protection of the ghost church.
Work continues on the road from the entrance to the main road from Negoiesti village to Balota village.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 10th April 2011
An important stone from the main room of the church which contained the Altar, was found not far from the church building, on the left bank of a small river, and this stone has been placed nearby the building to be protected there until it can be put in its correct position. Wooden crosses have been put in front of the church and near an old tomb, possibly of a priest, from many years ago.
The entire area has been cleaned, especially in and around the church. We would like to promote the church as a European project, together with our friends from Bulagaria, in May, when we will make a few movies about the main attractions of Dolj County, such as Vogna Church, the tomb of the Filisanu family, and the Cioroiu Nou site.
The Altar Room
In the most important part of the church where the Altar is placed, Alina and Adrian placed a candle under a beautiful icon which had been his father's from the day he was born, in 1930, and this icon was given as a gift to God for this ghost church, for the future.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 10th April 2011
Digging the road
Alina and Adrian were again at Vogna to work, helped by some people from Goiesti village, to make a good fence around the ghost church, to protect it against animals and other problems.
Also, a start was made on a good road from the main road which passes to to the main entrance of the church, to permit everyone to visit the church more easily.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 6th April 2011
Setting out the road
Adrian (and Roxy, the toy frog!) were again in the Vogna area to make all measurements for a main road starting from the door of the ghost church and going to the main road between Goiesti to Balota villages, along entire Vogna valley.
It was a beautiful spring morning, also the candles in the main room of the church, the altar, were burning, all was wonderful...
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 4th April 2011
The road will be paved with river cobbles for a good walking surface, and the road verges are made with clay and grass, to keep the stones aligned on the road surface.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 4th April 2011
The most difficult task was to make a correct measure of the road, in the direction east - west, from the main door of the church to the main road about 40 metres long, and 2.1 metres wide.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 4th April 2011
Cleaning up the Church floor and surrounds
Adrian (and Roxy, the toy frog!) have done a wonderful job cleaning up all the fallen bricks from the floor of the church, as well as from the grassy fields around it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 26th March 2011
The floor of the Altar area is now clean and respectable again. The rest of the church floor still needs to be tidied up.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 26th March 2011
Alina and Adrian were in the Vogna area to continue cleaning the ghost church. The cleaning is now complete, so the next step is to make a good fence to protect the building.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd April 2011
They put a few candles into the altar room and a small icon to protect it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd April 2011
Vogna Hills
Adrian and Alina went to the Vogna hills to search for a solution to the problem of the future roof of the Vogna church.
Here a wooden fence is ready to protect the 19th century church, made by the Mayor of Goiesti to help us in our project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
Long shots, over one kilometre from the church, from the hills above it to understand better the upper part of the building in order to better plan the future wooden roof over the church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
Looking from east to west to the ancient church, from a forest hill above the Vogna valley.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
Looking from south to north, along the Vogna valley.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 20th March 2011
An expert at Vogna
Adrian was at Vogna with an expert in ancient buildings, Enache Gheorghe 'Chiriac', also known as 'Tata Gheorghe' or 'Father Gheorghe', a term of great respect.
Even though he is 75 years old, Tata Gheorghe is an accomplished restorer of ancient houses, and was ready to go with Adrian to the Vogna area with the important help of the local authorities, the Goiesti Mayor, Eng. Adam Atanasie, to see how we can make a project to protect the old building of the 19th century Vogna Church.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th March 2011
It was a very interesting visit, many of our questions were answered by Tata Gheorghe, and we have finished a draft proect to protect the ghost church, or even to bring it to life, which is not so easy, and will not be accomplished soon, but is certainly possible.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th March 2011
Goiesti Sites Documentation
Goiesti sites documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th March 2011
Pometesti Churches
Raport Pometesti Biserica 05.03.2011
Alina and Adrian were in the area of Pometesti village, part of Goiesti village, on the right bank of the Amaradia River, to search for the solution to an interesting problem.
As detailed in the report above, in this village is a very new church, made in the middle of the 20th century, which appears in the list of Historical Monuments as being from the 18th century!
This church is shown in the photographs to the left.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th March 2011
With the help of a few local people, the Alexis Team has found the real 18th century church, more than one kilometre north of the present church, but completely destroyed by river flooding.
It is an important discovery, but because of the thick snows of winter, it was not possible to find any artefacts, so it will be necessary to come back when the snows have melted.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th March 2011
Documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th March 2011
Adrian and Alina were again in Goiesti, Dolj County, to try to solve a problem in Pometesti village. The present church of Pometesti was built in about 1970 and is listed as a historical monument from the 19th Century!
This confusion arises because there was a real 19th century church at Pometesti, but situated about 1.2 km north of the present church, on the right bank of the Amaradia River, but destroyed by flood many years ago.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th March 2011
In a previous search, no artefacts could be found, although all the local people assured the Alexis team that the former church was in the area. This time, however, after battling mould, wet clay, and creeks coming from the hills from melting snow, and with the sun very warm, the team did find artefacts in the area, including bricks, pottery pieces and other things.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th March 2011
Thus the former church of Pometesti has been discovered, and the authorities will be able to correct the LMI, or list of Historical Monuments, and note that this monument was destroyed by natural forces.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th March 2011
Documentation
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th March 2011
Enache Gheorghe
Enache Gheorghe, known as Chiriac, and also called "Tata Gheorghe", or Papa Gheorghe, is aged 75, and lives at Racarii de Sus village, near Filiasi, and is involved in the Racari Time-Line Project.
He has been working since he was six years old, and has only had two years of schooling. However he is a well known and respected builder in the entire area of Dolj, Gorj and Mehedinti Counties.
He is a very good iron worker, and an expert in all things.
He is a good example of a fine mind, born in a small village, with no access to information, but with great imagination and a brilliant brain.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th February 2011
We will be cooperating with "Tata Gheorghe" in our future Vogna Project. When he discovered what the Alexis team were doing, he cried out "Just two days ago I dreamt in a deep sleep about this church!" He advised Adrian in the most serious tones not to give up on the Vogna Church Project.
Soon, he and the Alexis team will make an evaluation of the old building from Vogna to decide the best ways to repair it, because only an old man like "Tata Gheorghe" knows how best to make a wall, using only bricks without iron or concrete support.
He told Adrian that the wooden pieces he had found in the wall of the church were put there to help hold the walls together, at a time when the old builders did not have the concrete and iron for the job.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th February 2011
His hands tell the story of his lifelong involvement in building.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th February 2011
Ciorobesti near Vogna
To the east of the Vogna 19th century ghost church there is a huge hill, with a field on top of it, used for agriculture by local people.
Alexis believes that this must be a historical site, because in the middle of this field is a small valley, like an ancient small river, there is the field mentioned, and a forest above it, and protected by deep valleys around it.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
The locals talk of an ancient village called Ciorobesti, found by Alexis at 44.518512° N,23.786003°E, but there are only a few artefacts to be found in the area.
Local people said that there was no water source nearby, the entire field at the top of the hill has no spring or well, so they had to bring water from the Vogna valley by hand, from a water source not far from the ghost church, to the west of it. This was the reason to abandon the village, and it has now become a ghost village.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
It is the first case in which a village has been placed just as the Alexis theory predicts. A valley to protect the ancient sites, hills with a field on top, forests above that. However there was no water source nearby, so there is no ancient site since the vital ingredient of easily available water is absent.
Although there is a long valley in this field, and the people from Ciorobesti dug to find a water source a few years ago, they found no water.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
Documentation, Goiesti targets updated.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
Old Cemetery at Vogna
Not far from the Vogna church, in the northern part of the valley, towards Negoiesti village, there is an area named as the ancient 19th century cemetery.
Local people told Adrian that in ancient times, about 200 years ago, the entire valley was full of underground houses, called Bordei/Boreie, also with a single church in the valley, the one which is now a ruin. There was a cemetery about 1.5 km north of the ghost church.
(left) the area of the cemetery seen from the church, (right) the cemetery area zoomed in from the church. It is on private land, and difficult to get access to.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
One local resident said that there was a strange disease which killed a lot of people, which may be the reason for siting the cemetery so far away.
GPS 44.535149°N, 23.761131°E
The cemetery may be seen looking straight past the broken bricks in the church wall, to the north, where a small bush can be seen in a square garden.
Documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
Water Source at Vogna
The Vogna 19th century church was abandoned during the first part of the 20th century. In about 1960, it was empty, but still had its wooden shingle (Shitza) roof. Some children were playing under the wooden roof, looking for birds, and using candles. The church burned, including the roof.
About 200 metres to the west of the church is a good water source, a spring, near where the people from the ghost village of Ciorobesti lived. Ciorobesti was to the east of the church, on top of the hill, so water had to be carted from the spring to the village up a difficult road.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
This was one of the reasons for abandoning the village, since there was no water source on top of the hill where the village was.
Fossiliferous site at Vogna
There are lots of sites of fossiliferous shells in Oltenia, from the Romanian II age, about 2.5 million years ago.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
Here is such a site, on the western hills of the 19th century Vogna ghost church area.
There are a lot of huge hills with erosion in this area, and a lot of fossil shells.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th December 2010
Partnership for the XIX Vogna Project
Alexis is working for a new project, the XIX Vogna Project, in which Alexis wants to bring back to life the ghost church from the 19th century, from Goiesti/Vogna village. A visit was made for a partnership with the Mayor of Goiesti, Ing. Adam Atanasie, a very important person for our future project.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Alexis was received warmly, and so very soon we will be able to organise good cooperation for the project. At this meeting was a reporter from the local newspaper, Editie Speciala, Craiova, who wants to show how local authorities work to protect and promote local culture and history.
Alexandru Gheorghe showed the Mayor the new Alexis project, and Alina Neagoe had a long conversation with the Mayor, with good results at this stage, but only the future will show us the reality.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Adrian, Alina and Alexandru went to the Goiesti village area, with the reporter to see more of the XIX Vogna Project.
Together, they saw many aspects of the new project, as well as solutions, and discussed the partnership with local authorities, in particular with the Mayor of Goiesti, Ing. Adam Atanasie, a man who is concerned with the promotion of the culture and history of the local area, as well as being a good administrator for his village.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
During this trip Alina discovered that a few bricks from the ghost church had been written with what appears to be the name of the brickmaker, just as Roman bricks were stamped, and just as we found in Tutana Church.
The letters can easily be seen to have been made before the bricks were fired in the kiln.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th November 2010
Visit to Goiesti Church
Adrian and Alexandru made another visit to Goiesti Ghost Church, to see a beautiful but lost monument of their country, and also to make plans for a reconstruction of the monument, a good project, because we strongly believe that we all have to make an effort to protect these wonders of our people, for the next generation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th November 2010
Adrian was in the church for over an hour, and he felt it was one of the best moments of his life, trying to feel this dead monument as a real house of God.
The images of saints on the walls, the beautiful arcades and walls, still alive here, were moments for Adrian, more than any communication with any kind of God on this planet.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th November 2010
Inside the monument, you can feel the spirit of this dead church. Adrian says that real love is what is still alive after the love is dead...
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th November 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
Google Earth image and documentation.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd October 2010
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Alexis Project Filiasi/Romania
RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
Email: [email protected]