Wooden Church of St. Demetrius – Botoșana

You arrive at Botoșana easily. It is only a half-an-hour drive from Suceava. Be prepared for you will find here one of the most beautiful stories of the wood. 

The story will be told by an old church, dedicated to Saint Demetrius, erected in 1810, from fir planks with “dovetail” joints, with feet carved from oak tree and a furring tile roof, with large eaves, like a summer hat. The monument is shaped as a cross. It smells of old wood and basil.

Then an outstanding old oak tree will tell you the story further. It is older than us, older than the church and maybe even older than the village. Over 17 metres high, its large crown is wider than the roof of the church. Steven the Great is said to have stopped and rested in its shadow.

Around the year 1530, the village belonged to a woman. The story of the church is also connected to a woman. By the altar, you will find the tomb of the wife of one of the first priests. Her death, at only 26 years of age was a sacrifice for durability.

The church is usually opened. Here, at the village hearth, the believers have gathered for the service every Sunday and holiday for over 200 years.

According to the inscription in the church's porch, it was built in 1810 by the craftsman Grigore Ulian from Câmpulung Moldovenesc. 

In 1843, at the religious building in Botoșana no less than 1,036 parishioners came to pray, shepherded by priest Constantin Hurjui. His wife, Domnica Hurjui, died at the early age of 26. She was buried to the right of the altar. There is a stone cross over her tomb that bears, in Cyrillic letters, her dates of birth, marriage and death. 

Invaluable treasures 

The wooden church in Botoșoana has an impressive inventory, of over 200 works of art with historical value, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Moreover, besides the iconostasis painted in oriental style and made at the same time as the church, there are also two other painted fragments. One of them is dated at about 1859 and it depicts scenes from the Saviour's martyrdom, located on the wall that separates the narthex from the nave. The second fragment is on the northern wall of the nave and it seems to have belonged to the old church of the village.

Unique experiences

Botoșana is a place with impressive traditional specifics, the commune hosts many activities and annual events to promote customs, traditions and folk art, such as the “Little Horses” from Botoșana, the Goodmen's Ball or the “Bucovina Longing” Festival.

You can also stop at other tourist attractions in the area, such as the “Vasile Boca” Village Museum, the “Saint Elijah” church, the Secular Oak Tree, which is the symbol of the commune at the centre of the Botoșoana locality, as well as the Oak Tree in Cajvana, which is approximately 500 years old.