Today: 103 years since the laying of the foundation stone of the Reunification and Coronation Cathedral in the old Belgrade Citadel

It has been 103 years since the architect Victor Ștefănescu laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of Reunification and Coronation in the old Citadel of Belgrade.

Thursday, March 28, 2024, marks 103 years since the laying of the foundation stone of the Reunification and Coronation Cathedral in the old Belgrade Citadel. The realization of the project and the coordination of the construction works of the Cathedral and the architectural ensemble were entrusted to the architect Victor Ștefănescu, the actual building works being executed by the “General Technical Enterprise of Bucharest”.

The foundation stone of the place of worship was laid on the second day of Easter, on March 28, 1921. The work progressed rapidly, as the site was continuously supplied with all the necessary materials of the best quality. The Royal House paid special attention to the smooth progress of the construction, so that, only one month after the laying of the foundation stone, King Ferdinand and Queen Maria visited Alba Iulia to ascertain the state of the executed works.

The realization of the project and the coordination of the construction works of the Cathedral and the architectural ensemble were entrusted to the architect Victor Ștefănescu. The actual building works were executed under the direction of engineer Tiberiu Eremia. The project proposed for the new church and related buildings was the first form of expression of neo-Romanian architecture, which defined the national style, on the territory of Transylvania.

On April 27, 1921, the plinth of the Cathedral was already erected and the building process was in full swing. In July, work was done on raising the drum of the church tower, and in August the belfry was almost completed. Also this month, in order to supervise the construction, Prince Nicolae undertook a visit to Alba Iulia to inspect the construction site, accompanied by two major generals of the Romanian Army and three ministers from the Government.

On September 8, 1921, the cross was placed on the church tower, and on December 1, the scaffolding was dismantled. At the same time, finishing works were carried out inside, and the master Costin Petrescu opened the painting site in the fresco technique, according to the ermine of the Byzantine iconographic tradition. In the following year, an assiduous effort was made to complete the work, so that in the first days of October 1921 the bells were raised in the bell tower.