Saint George Roman Catholic Church in Ciucsângeorgiu

During the 17th and 19th centuries, the center of the village of Ciucsângeorgiu represented the religious nucleus of the Lower Ciuc region. Its contribution to this leading position was consolidated by the fact that, in 1784, it received the right from the Austrian emperor to organize weekly fairs, thus becoming a primary economic actor in this region.

At the foot of the Ciuc Mountains, in Harghita County, lies the village of Ciucsângeorgiu, at the center of which stands a stately Roman Catholic church, one of the most beautiful, largest, and oldest Gothic churches in the region. Built in the 14th century, the church underwent numerous transformations until it reached its current appearance, demonstrating the wealth of the community.

Inside, Gothic and Baroque styles harmoniously blend. The attention is drawn to the richly decorated Baroque altar with biblical scenes, the pulpit, and the canopy. The organ, housed in a massive Baroque cabinet, is in excellent condition and functional. On the ceiling, the Gothic ribs are still preserved, with keystones carved in various geometric patterns.

In the churchyard, there is a small cemetery and a funeral chapel. The enclosing wall once protected the entire architectural ensemble. Archaeological discoveries near the Roman Catholic church have revealed Bronze Age ceramics and Dacian silver coins.

The Saint George Roman Catholic Church in Ciucsângeorgiu is worth visiting for its beauty, and the area offers numerous tourist destinations, busts of personalities, memorial houses, monuments, and an ethnographic museum! It's a true history lesson!

Brief historical insight

The ensemble of the Roman Catholic church "St. George" in Ciucsângeorgiu was declared a monument according to the registry of monuments of Harghita County in 1992. In terms of size, it ranks immediately after the church in Racu. One of the most beautiful and largest Gothic churches in the Lower Ciuc region is protected by a fortification wall 5-6 meters high.

The center of the commune, the village of Ciucsângeorgiu, was first mentioned in the papal register in 1332 under the name "Sancto Georgio," meaning Saint George.

Specifics of the area

Throughout history, the village has been affected by Tatar invasions from the eastern valleys (1661 and 1694), imperial raids (1704-1710), plague epidemics (1717-1719), and the period of communist collectivization (1949-1962). Despite these challenges, the population remained steadfast in defending the Catholic faith and Szekler roots. It is said that the strength of the community was unity.

Invaluable treasures

In the commune's perimeter, archaeological remains dating back to the Neolithic, ancient, and medieval periods have been identified. One of the remarkable discoveries is the reliquary cross found in Cotormani, originating from Kiev and dating back to the 11th-12th centuries.