Wooden Church ,,Cuvioasa Parascheva,,

TYPE: DOCUMENTARY

STATUS: finished

LOCATION: Crivina de Sus, Romania

TEAM: Connie (photography), TVR (video)

   This project was undertaken at the invitation of Diana Bogea, the producer of the “Close Roads” show on TVR Timisoara, to join the show’s team in documenting the restoration of the ,,Cuvioasa Parascheva,, a wooden church in Crivina de Sus, Romania. This place of worship, dedicated to ,,Cuvioasa Parascheva,, dates back to 1676 and has been classified as a Type A national historical monument.

   In the summer of 2013, initiated by the Romanian Association of Landscape Architects, a group of volunteers (comprising architects, landscape architects, ethnologists, geographers, theologians, engineers, painting restorers, anthropologists, historians, etc.) decided to rescue the historical monument from its then state of decay.

   By 2014, when the below images were taken, the preservation process was in its final phase, focusing on interventions to halt the degradation of the sacred site. At that time, about 30 volunteers, students, and specialists were working on the project.

Black and white photo of a volunteer looking inside the church, with wooden pews and icons visible in the background.
Close-up of worn wooden pews, capturing the texture and aging of the wood.
Volunteers carefully analyzing architectural documents on the wooden floor of the historic church.
Elderly local man with a hat talking to a woman outside the church, both engaged in conversation.
A student measures an intricate design on a piece of wood, carefully preparing to recreate an ornamental pattern.
Wooden benches lined against a wall, casting shadows that reflect the rustic ambiance of the church interior.
A cameraman films two students and a priest as they work with wooden logs, which will later be used in the restoration process. The scene is set in a green, rural landscape with tents in the background, indicating a temporary camp.
Detail of a structural element in the wooden church, showing a taut rope against aged wood grain.
Two architecture students are working at a wooden workbench under a tree, one handling a chisel with focus, while the other watches with interest.
A group of participants, including a cameraman, students, and a priest, setting up a wooden cross in the ground as part of the restoration process.
Two architecture students working outdoors; one student is focused on carving wood while the other observes intently, both surrounded by greenery.
Close-up of a colorful woven carpet on the church floor, with blurred figures of volunteers visible through the open doorway, representing a blend of interior detail and outdoor activity.
Two students and a priest carefully tend to the burning of the lower part of a wooden cross, a process intended to prepare the base for insertion into the ground as part of the restoration work. The scene shows the intensity and precision of their efforts amidst the flames, surrounded by a rural landscape.
Woman kneeling on a woven rug inside the wooden church, working on documents as another person observes.
A young boy standing thoughtfully next to the base of the newly fixed cross, as if contemplating its purpose in the restoration project.
Image of the altar area, decorated with icons and red curtains, with wooden rugs on the floor.
Woman sitting on the edge of the wooden church's porch, looking thoughtful with blurred greenery in the background.
A local boy, present almost daily throughout the church restoration, smiles warmly at the camera, embodying the community spirit around the project.
Woodworker focused on carving intricate details on a wooden beam, with two individuals observing nearby.
A priest and a young child observing the newly fixed cross, with the priest offering guidance and explaining its significance.
A female student leaning out of a small window, using a measuring tape to record details.
Close-up of a carved wooden detail from the church's structure, showing the texture and craftsmanship of the historical woodwork.
Volunteers carefully examining architectural plans and discussing restoration details inside the wooden church, with a focus on the dedication to preserving the site’s heritage.
Black and white image of scattered restoration papers on the wooden floor, with two volunteers standing near the doorway, casting shadows over the documents.
An architecture student wearing sunglasses and gloves carefully removes old wood at an outdoor work area under the trees.
A professor focuses intently on carving a wooden joint, surrounded by shavings from his meticulous work.
Close-up of the rustic wooden door latch, with blurred background of the church interior.
Two students stand nearby, observing closely as a third person carves a wooden piece with precision.
A craftsman carving intricate crosses and religious symbols into a dark wooden pillar.
A female student reaching through the window using a measuring tape to record details.
Volunteers organizing restoration plans on the wooden floor, with one person holding a camera, capturing the historical preservation process inside the church.
Two volunteers in discussion over restoration documents spread on the floor, emphasizing teamwork and planning in preserving the historical structure.