The Reformed ChurchThe Reformed Church (The Citadel Church) (The Citadel Church)

The building of the church was started in the 14th The building of the church was started in the 14th century by the Franciscan Order. The sanctuary and century by the Franciscan Order. The sanctuary and the apsis were consecrated on 23rd November, the apsis were consecrated on 23rd November, 1400.The gothic nave was finished only in 1490. The 1400.The gothic nave was finished only in 1490. The actual length of the church is 57, the height of the actual length of the church is 57, the height of the central nave is 12 meters.central nave is 12 meters.

The Big Western The Big Western GateGateIts deep freize with Its deep freize with seven ogee seven ogee mouldings and three mouldings and three quarter round roll quarter round roll mouldings is mouldings is decorated with decorated with grapes and grapes grapes and grapes leaves. leaves. The northern The northern entrance is joined by entrance is joined by a window decorated a window decorated with ogee moulding. with ogee moulding.

There are steps There are steps carved from stone carved from stone leading to the big leading to the big church gate.church gate.

The Smaller Southern Gate The Smaller Southern Gate It cannot be seen in its original shape. It was built up It cannot be seen in its original shape. It was built up with a wall in 1556 after the reformation of the church. with a wall in 1556 after the reformation of the church. Its portal jamb frieze is formed from a capital decorated Its portal jamb frieze is formed from a capital decorated with oak leaves. On its gable sustained by ogee with oak leaves. On its gable sustained by ogee mouldings there is supposedly a 16th century painting mouldings there is supposedly a 16th century painting illustrating the martyrdom of St. Lenard.illustrating the martyrdom of St. Lenard.

The Northern GateThe Northern GateUnlike the smaller Unlike the smaller southern gate, the southern gate, the small northern small northern gate is still used gate is still used nowadays. It is nowadays. It is decorated with decorated with wood and square wood and square shaped reliefs. It shaped reliefs. It is openis openonly during only during important important celebrations.celebrations.

The 55 m long brick building is outstanding not only The 55 m long brick building is outstanding not only because of its size but also for its beautiful because of its size but also for its beautiful construction. The external decorations around the gates construction. The external decorations around the gates and the pillars were made from stone.and the pillars were made from stone.

When you enter the When you enter the 55 m long church 55 m long church you can see the 22,5 you can see the 22,5 m long and 9 m wide m long and 9 m wide Gothic sanctuary. Gothic sanctuary. The original ribbed The original ribbed arches and arch arches and arch stones of the four-stones of the four-part vaulting were part vaulting were changed during changed during renovations renovations between 1906 and between 1906 and 1907. The vaulting 1907. The vaulting was replaced by was replaced by wire-lattice wall and wire-lattice wall and the stone ribbed the stone ribbed arches by gypsum arches by gypsum imitations. imitations.

The walls of the sanctuary are The walls of the sanctuary are intersected by Gothic style pointed intersected by Gothic style pointed windows: three at the sanctuary windows: three at the sanctuary closure and four on the southern closure and four on the southern side, ensuring a good lightning of side, ensuring a good lightning of the church interior.the church interior.These Gothic shaped windows of These Gothic shaped windows of the nave remind us of XV.th the nave remind us of XV.th century. Because the coloured century. Because the coloured glass windows were ruined in 1601, glass windows were ruined in 1601, now we can see transparent glass now we can see transparent glass

windows instead.windows instead.

The furniture of the church was made by local joiners in The furniture of the church was made by local joiners in the middle of the 19th century, the pews in 1835-1836. the middle of the 19th century, the pews in 1835-1836. The pulpit and its crown was made by the carpenter The pulpit and its crown was made by the carpenter Erdelyi Janos according to the plans of count Teleki Erdelyi Janos according to the plans of count Teleki Ferenc, the son of Teleki Samuel, founder of the famous Ferenc, the son of Teleki Samuel, founder of the famous library. In the same year the communion table was library. In the same year the communion table was made to the order of Zalanyi Gyorgy and it is the work made to the order of Zalanyi Gyorgy and it is the work of a local carpenter, Bertok Gyorgy. of a local carpenter, Bertok Gyorgy.

The Citadel-church The Citadel-church from Tirgu Mures has from Tirgu Mures has been so far the only been so far the only church that houses church that houses two organs. This fact two organs. This fact has its own history. has its own history. The Baroque organ in The Baroque organ in the sanctuary was the sanctuary was built by Johannes built by Johannes Prause from Brasov in Prause from Brasov in 1789. This 1789. This monumental organ monumental organ was readjusted by was readjusted by Transylvanian Transylvanian masters: Hermann masters: Hermann Binder, Zoltán Papp Binder, Zoltán Papp and Ferenc Mihály. and Ferenc Mihály.

Before doing so, Heidenoldendorf from Before doing so, Heidenoldendorf from Germany had donated a 100 year old organ to Germany had donated a 100 year old organ to the church, which was put up on the sole the church, which was put up on the sole gallery by organ-builder József Molnár from gallery by organ-builder József Molnár from Oradea. Oradea.

The church The church also also preserves an preserves an interesting interesting old relic: the old relic: the “singing “singing chair”, made chair”, made in 1760, in 1760, representing representing a beautiful a beautiful rarity of its rarity of its time. time.