The Diocese of Spain and Portugal announced in a statement published on the diocesan website that an essential phase of the painting work has recently been completed at the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Madrid. So far, the team coordinated by Archdeacon Nicolae Bradu Balan, a church painter from Alba Iulia, has completed over 430 of the 2,000 square meters of frescoes.
The announcement was made last Sunday to the faithful at the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Madrid Cathedral. Protosyncellus Macarie Bărgăvanu, the Cathedral’s Ecclesiarch, presented the status of the works: the left lateral apse of the church, the prothesis (table of oblation), the diaconicon, and the rooms in the northern and southern areas of the nave have been painted.
On the vault of the left lateral apse, the Descent from the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is depicted towards the eastern side and the Crucifixion of the Lord towards the western side. The Resurrection is painted in the conch of the apse. The icon of the Holy Prophet Isaiah and the scenes of Christ washing the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, the Prayer in Gethsemane, and the Annunciation are painted in the lower registers.
On the dome of the prothesis, the Saviour Jesus Christ—the Great High Priest—is represented. In the lower registers, there are flying choirs of cherubim and seraphim, scenes from the Old Testament related to the theme of sacrifice and other saints.
On the dome of the diaconicon, the Virgin Mary with the Child is depicted, and in the lower registers, flying cherubim and seraphim, scenes from the life of the Holy Prophet Elijah and other holy deacons and priests.
The dome of the north lateral nave represents the Apostle Paul with scenes from his life, while the south lateral nave is dedicated to representations of the Holy Apostle Peter.
The current phase of the works, completed on June 30, 2024, was financed by the Department for Romanians Abroad through a project to preserve and develop Romanian national identity in a European context.
The project partners are the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal, the Nepsis España Association, the Hope and Philanthropy Association, the Saint Sebastian Children’s and Youth Center Association, and the Basilica Media Center of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The patronal feast of the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Madrid is “The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.”
Photography courtesy of the Diocese of Spain of Portugal
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