A Romanian YouTuber with more than 145,000 subscribers has recreated the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timișoara in the video game Minecraft.
The creator told Basilica.ro that the project aims to promote Romania’s architectural heritage and encourage young people to discover religious and cultural monuments.
The project, which began in February, was built at a 3:1 scale, meaning the cathedral in the game is three times the size of the real building.
Timișoara in the world of Minecraft
Known online under the pseudonym Burtocu, the content creator said the choice of monument was not accidental.
“I chose the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timișoara because, first of all, Timișoara is my hometown, and the cathedral is one of the city’s symbols. As a Minecraft player from Timișoara, I wanted to make the city known in the Minecraft world by building this symbol.”
“The other reason is the cathedral itself and its architecture. I think it is one of the most beautiful Orthodox cathedrals in the world. I am captivated both by the exterior and the interior, and I wanted to share this exceptional architecture with more people on the internet,” he explained.
An architectural treasure
The project’s author believes that video games can also serve as a tool for young people to discover cultural and religious heritage.
“I believe Romania has a true architectural treasure, which unfortunately is not promoted often enough online. I hope that through my projects I can spark interest in our religious and secular architecture.”
During the research process, the Romanian YouTuber said he gained a deeper understanding of the cathedral’s architectural features and the diversity of influences integrated into its construction.
“Although its architecture is inspired by Moldavian churches, it also uses many Byzantine and Romanesque elements. It is not a cathedral built in a single style — it combines many architectural influences that can be seen together.”
Authentic details and future projects
The content creator encouraged those who download the map containing the reconstructed cathedral to take time to explore all the spaces included in the build.
“I added many rooms, and all of them are worth seeing. I chose yellow lighting and a darker interior, just like in the original cathedral. In this way, everyone entering the building in the game can have a similar experience, though obviously it cannot compare to the real one, which deserves to be seen in full,” Burtocu said.
Asked whether he plans to continue the series of projects inspired by Romanian heritage, the YouTuber confirmed that he already has other projects in mind.
“In the past, I recreated several monuments and cathedrals from Eastern Europe and Romania. Going forward, I will continue focusing on churches in Timișoara, while also building other monuments in the future.”
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Timișoara in Minecraft is included on a downloadable map compatible with the latest version of the game.
Read more:
- Romania’s National Cathedral recreated in Minecraft on Orthodox-themed Orthocraft server
- Orthodox-themed Minecraft server digitally recreates Mount Athos
Photo: Burtocu / Minecraft
