In Niculițel, Romania, one of the country’s oldest churches, dedicated to Saint Athanasius the Great, was consecrated after extensive restoration work, reports basilica.ro. The consecration service was performed by Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube and Bishop Visarion of Tulcea.

The restoration and conservation project, which began in 2019, was funded by the European Union, with an investment of approximately 15 million lei. Following the consecration of the church, the hierarchs celebrated a liturgy in the square, where a special altar was set up for the occasion.

Parish priest Iulian Talpiș was awarded the title of Stavrophore Economus in recognition of his significant efforts in restoring the sacred site. The mayor of the city, along with the builders, architects, restoration artists, and other participants in the project, were presented with certificates of gratitude for their contributions to the historical church’s renovation.

The Church of Saint Athanasius is the only church in the northern part of the Dobruja region that survived Ottoman rule. Originally built during Byzantine times, the church has been rebuilt several times throughout history.

This church is listed as a national monument of Romania and has undergone multiple significant restoration efforts since the 1970s. During one of these restorations, fragments of ancient Byzantine frescoes were discovered, which are among the oldest in Romania. Archaeologists believe the original structure was built on the foundation of a Byzantine chapel. Sources indicate that the church was closed in the 15th century, likely after the Ottoman campaign of 1420, but was restored a century later and has been functioning since the 16th century.