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Troitza (Troiţă) and other crosses
Troitza are wayside crosses which are particularly evident in parts of Romania, and in areas elsewhere in the world where Romanians have brought their culture and religion.
Radovan Cemetery Wooden Crosses
Adrian and Alexandru were in Radovan village to visit the grave of Patra Maria, involved in the case of Eleana Padomianu, the Radovan Forest Bride, and took some photographs of the wooden crosses there.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2011
The photographs show the folk culture involved in the making and decorating of these artefacts.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 15th April 2011
Cioroiu Nou Cemetery
Just outside the village of Cioroiu Nou to the east, is the cemetery of the village, just near the main road to Boureni and Silistea Crucii.This is a general view of the cemetery, looking from the west to east, from the road.
Chiar la iesirea din Cioroiu Nou catre est, este cimitirul satului, chiar linga drumul principal catre BOURENI si SILISTEA CRUCII. Aceasta este o vedere generala a cimitirului, privind dinspre vest catre est, de pe drum.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
In this cemetery there are a lot of wooden crosses with sculptures of flowers.
In acest cimitir se afla o multime de cruci de lemn cu modele florale (sculpturi).
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
The wooden crosses are made with many different representations of flowers, in many forms and positions.
Aceste cruci de lemn sunt facute cu o multime de modele florale, in multe forme si diferite pozitii
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Some apparently old crosses are painted with human bodies or faces in a beautiful manner.
Unele dintre ele sunt pictate cu corpuri sau fete umane,par a fi vechi, dar foarte frumoase.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
Others are painted with flowers, branches and leaves.
Altele sunt pictate cu modele vegetale, ca flori si altele.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 11th May 2008
This single cross, called a Troitza, or Troiţă, includes a sculpture of Jesus, a very old one. Never in the Bîlta area has the Project team found any others like this, only in the northern part of Oltenia, in Gorj county, are crosses with the body of Jesus as a wooden sculpture. In the area around Filiaşi, there are only painted images on wood, or engraved as can beseen in the Meteu cemetery crosses.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 19th April 2008
This is the The Episcopal Seal of Bishop John Michael of the Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton, Ohio, USA.
Unlike those of western Heraldic tradition, an eastern Bishop's emblem is more a seal than a coat-of-arms, and pertains more particularly to his see than to his family of origin.
Typical features which are found in Bishop John Michael's Episcopal seal include: the mandiyas, or bishop's mantle, the long, wine-colored cape, which is worn during processions. This forms the background for the other emblems.
Centered upon the mandiyas are emblems proper to the Diocese of St. George the Martyr in Canton, and chosen by its first bishop, the Most Reverend Louis Puscas, viz., the troitza, or wayside cross, and the undulations which represent the hills and valleys of Romania, the land of origin of this particular Church. In distinction to the manner in which these emblems appear in his seal, the hills are rendered more iconographic and less stylized, and the cross is based upon an existing troitza photographed by Bishop Botean in Romania. The same design was used at his ordination to the priesthood.
Photo and text: http://www.romaniancatholic.org/diocese.php?seal
Troitza at an Australian Romanian church
Photo: Consuela, 2007
Australian Romanian church interior, showing the beautiful traditional paintings on the walls of the church.
Photo: Consuela, 2007
Troitza at Vodita Monastery
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2006
Troitza.
Many of these examples of Troitza are in the Pologravi area, in the north of Oltenia, in the county of Gorj.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Pologravi area troitza.
These large crosses are often placed at crossroads.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Pologravi area troitza.
Many of these crosses are three metres high by two metres across and are often protected by a wooden roof.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Pologravi area troitza.
The Troitza are usually in honour of particular people or commonly known heroes.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Pologravi area troitza. The crosses often, but not always, feature an image of Jesus.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
A troitza from Orsova, a small town between Herculane and Drobeta Turnu-Severin.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
A troitza from Orsova, a small town between Herculane and Drobeta Turnu-Severin.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Gorj County. Crosses as a remembrance of those who have died. The family of the dead person make, in front of the house, a small bridge over or near water, as a symbol for the passing of the soul over the river Styx.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Gorj County. Crosses as a remembrance of those who have died. This is a tradition in Gorj County.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Gorj County. Crosses as a remembrance of those who have died. Some are dug into the ground, some are simply leant against the fence of the house.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Gorj County. Crosses as a remembrance of those who have died. The crosses bear the name of those who have died.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
Gorj County. Crosses as a remembrance of those who have died. There are as many crosses as there are people who have died in that family house.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe
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Alexis Project Filiasi/Romania
RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
Email: [email protected]