Church of the former Minorite monastery in Bistrița

The church of the former Franciscan monastery, also known as the Minorite church, is preserved in Piața Unirii in Bistrița. The church, built around 1280–1290, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The polygonal choir, the vaults resting on stone ribs and the windows of different stages retain traces of medieval architecture. The nave was rebuilt at the end of the fifteenth century and at the beginning of the next.

The church went through several changes of use. The Greek-Catholic community bought it in 1895, and since 1948 it has been used by the Orthodox Church, dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God in the Temple. Inside there is painting of the Byzantine tradition, and a sundial can be seen on the southern side. The exterior can be seen from the square; entry is made respecting the schedule and religious life of the community.

Photo: Tbi1233 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Proportional resizing; full frame at 650 × 400 px on neutral background, no warping or cropping of the building.