The parish church of Dancaș combines the Maramureș architectural style with a building history spanning several years and two locations. Its construction site and later location are different: part of the construction took place in Bârsana, while assembly began only in Dancaș.

Parish Church: Architectural Style and Building History

Construction began on 26 September 2013 with the laying of the foundation stone. In 2014, Maramureș craftsmen led by Vasile Bârsan from Bârsana, in Maramureș County, built the wooden church in Bârsana up to the eaves. The eaves are where the roof meets the exterior wall. On 1 July 2015, the church was brought to Dancaș, where assembly began. It was consecrated on 8 July 2018, just under five years after the foundation stone was laid.

The church is dedicated to the holy emperors Constantine and Helena. Saint Fanourios the Martyr is associated with the church as its third patron saint, after the two emperors. Thus, alongside its building history, the dedication and religious patron saints are distinct aspects of the building.

Getting There and Road Directions

Dancaș can be reached via the DN 248, the Iași–Ciurea road, through Horpaz and Ciurbești. Another route is via the DN 248A, the Iași–Voinești road, through Miroslava and Balciu. For your trip planning, you can use the road names and the places listed for each route; check current road conditions and signage before setting off. The two routes differ in their road designations and the order of the places they pass through.

Historical Connections in Horpaz and Ciurbești

The present-day Church of Saint Demetrius stands in neighbouring Horpaz. It was built in 1935 by residents of Horpaz and Dancaș. Dancaș and Horpaz share a cemetery; gravestones dating from 1814 and 1824 have been found in Horpaz’s present-day cemetery. These gravestone dates are more than a century earlier than the 1935 church building and mark an older period. Two connections with Dancaș are evident in the section on Horpaz: the church’s construction by residents of both places and their shared cemetery.

In Ciurbești, the wooden Church of Saint Nicholas stands as a cemetery church on the edge of the village. It is reached via a steep access road from the county road. The church grounds offer an exceptional view of the village. Unlike the parish church of Dancaș, it is therefore a cemetery church on the outskirts of the village. The churches also have different historical dates: Dancaș’s building history runs from 2013 to 2018, while the church in Horpaz dates to 1935.

Palace and Nature Reserve in Miroslava

The Sturdza Palace in Miroslava was built in the early 19th century by the family of the Moldavian boyar Vasile Beldiman. Today, the palace houses the Ethnographic Museum of Moldavian Agriculture and the school library. The historic building thus serves two different purposes today. The Fânețele Seculare Valea lui David nature reserve is also located in the municipality of Miroslava. Together, these connections represent distinct themes in Miroslava: historic architecture, a museum and school library, and a nature reserve.

Discover more destinations: Miroslava.

Return to the main travel overview: Miroslava.