Marcu-Istrate, Daniela - Rusu, Adrian Andrei - Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Arhitectura religioasă medievală din Transilvania 3. (Satu Mare, 2004)
Alexandru Baboş: Invisible features in the Design of the Timber Curches of Maamureş
The Timber Churches of Maramureş Summing up the research on the most suitable measure-units, the following statement can be concluded: the conversion of sizes from meters or centimeters to royal ells or yards - although it is not unequivocal - creates the possibility to understand the hidden process of planning - the main task of this study. The two sister models ... The recorded extant and vanished wooden churches (figs. 4-5) were differentiated — according to formal criteria - in the group of churches with a single eaves and those with double eaves (fig. 6). Beyond this formal partition, the architecture of the churches was dominated more or less by a great uniformity. All the churches were basically alike considering the ground-plan, divided in three parts: the narthex, the nave and the sanctuary, extended in some cases with an additional porch in front of the entrance. The position of the entrance - southern or western -, the number of the doors of the iconostasis - two or three - and the shape of the sanctuary - rectangular or polygonal - were variations of the same fundamental tripartite ground-plan, determined by geographical or historical factors. In the elevation, all the naves were covered with semi-cylindrical - or similar - vaults, representing the Heaven, whereas above the narthex, with a flat ceiling in general, a tower was erected. Due to the striking seclusion, the sanctuaries could be covered in various ways, without compromising the dominant uniformity: the usual heavenly semi-cylindrical vault was replaced sometimes by a dome or a flat ceiling. On the other hand, a significant differentiation can be marked at the lateral walls. The churches with two roofs, and a row of small windows between them, gained specific shape of a basilica, which unmistakable differentiated them from the older churches, built with single eaves. Thus, the two models share almost all significant features. From the beginning of the 16lh century to the end of the 18"' century, these models — related with each other - were repeated constantly from village to village, without compromising the spatial quality or altering their identity. It is relevant here the conflict, occurred during the construction of the upper church of Călineşti Susani. As soon as the Moldavian builders, engaged for the construction, started to build the church with lateral apses - a foreign type of architectural model - the project was violently rejected. Only after the completion of the church of Glod, this type was accepted, although the traditional model had to be considered also, by the builders, creating the most intriguing church of Maramureş. Therefore, the traditional church-model was not imposed by the carpenters, but it was a strong requirement of the founders. Another eloquent example in this sense, in contrast of the case of Călineşti, is 293
