Subiect: The Church from Ruginoasa in the attention of Historical Monuments Commission (1928 –1948)
One of the most important churches in Iaşi County is Noble Court Church from Ruginoasa, an important residential ensemble founded by Sturdza family and ennobled, in the course of its tumultuous history, by the presence of the Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza and his wife, Lady Helen.
Built in 1811, in neoclassical style, at the proposal of the treasurer Sandu Sturdza and his wife Ecaterina Moruzi – according to the plans of the architect Johann Freiwald and painted by Ioan Balomir – the church having „Adormirea Maicii Domnului” and „Sfânta Mare Muceniţă Ecaterina” patrons of the church fulfilled the role of a praying place and grave for the founders. In the church’s vault are buried the founders (big chancellor Săndulache Sturdza and his wife Ecaterina), their son Costache Sturdza, and his son Alexandru Sturdza. Later, after the acquisition of the domain in Rugionasa by the Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, in 1862, the Noble Court Church became reign necropolis, here being buried, in 1873 the Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Earlier, other members of
Cuza family were buried at Ruginoasa: Sultana Cuza (Prince’s mother, dead in 1865), big equerry Grigore Cuza (Prince’s uncle, dead in 1869) and Dimitrie Cuza, Prince’s brother. In 1888 and 1890 near the church were buried Prince’s sons, Dimitrie and Alexandru.
Knowing the importance of this historical monument, doubled by its memorial value, the Church from Ruginoasa was permanently in the attention of the Historical Monuments Commission, for more than two decades.
The original documents existent in the archive of the Historical Monuments Commission reveals interesting pages in the history of this church and also the efforts made by the priest and the parishioners for its restoration. Almost completely destroyed during World War II, less by bombardments and more by dwellers, the church was restored between 1955-1958, and the painting was restored after three decades, between 1986-1989.
