The Jelna Evangelical Church Assemblye

When you arrive in Jelna, in Bistrița-Năsăud County, you encounter a village with proud, old houses, built by sturdy inhabitants. In the center of the locality stands the fortified church, initially Catholic. Its history has been linked to that of the citadel in Bistrița.

The fortified church, now Evangelical Lutheran, bears the aspect of an elder who has weathered turbulent years. Its life hasn't been easy. But it remains stately and dignified. Today, the gate tower, segments of the fortification walls, the choir, and the apse of the old church are still preserved.

The church belongs to the category of hall churches. Today, the main nave is in ruins, with only a few sections of its walls visible, lacking a roof.

The apse and the choir of the altar are covered with Gothic-style ogives, adorned with consoles decorated with human figures. The walls of the altar apse house frescoes dating back to the 15th century, as indicated by some fragments revealed beneath the plaster. The church nave, which once had Baroque vaults, is now a ruin, with these vaults collapsed. Near the church rises a monumental bell tower, built in the 16th century, which, together with the circular enclosure, forms a defensive system.

The history of the locality is sprinkled with notable moments. In the year of the fall of Constantinople, 1453, Jelna came into the possession of John Hunyadi. Later, in 1497, a school organized next to the church was documented here.

Since the mid-15th century, important relics for Christians have been periodically brought to the church in Jelna: fragments from the Virgin Mary's garment, from the crown of thorns of Jesus, and even soil from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

Information provided by historians indicates that the church had a gilded flag intended for religious processions. In 1558, the Catholic objects were sold, and the church was transformed into a Lutheran place of worship. During this period, a stone tower was built, and a clock was installed. Remarkable remains the reproduction of the Navicella fresco, taken from the Basilica San Pietro in Rome, serving as a fascinating motif for visitors.