Differences in Church Building Styles

A few, sometimes obvious and sometimes minor, differences exist among the building styles of Reformed, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox churches in Transylvania. Each denomination has a distinct fixture atop the bell towers or steeples to signify the faith practiced there. Orthodox churches don arched crosses, Roman Catholic churches utilize plain crosses, and Reformed churches sport stars. Another more readily apparent stylistic variance occurs between Western Christian and Eastern Orthodox church buildings. The architecture and facades of Orthodox churches are often times more ornate. Of the Orthodox churches we visited and drove past, many exteriors were painted or tiled with images of holy figures. Also, in particular, architectural design of the largest Orthodox church we encountered differed significantly from the more typical style, discussed below, being equipped with several domes and having a more unique layout. It should be noted however that in general churches of all denominations located in cities tend to be larger and more decorative in designs both outside and within.

Catholic

Reformed

Exterior Decorations of Orthodox churches


Domes of Orthodox church

Despite these differences many noticeable commonalities are shared among many churches throughout Transylvania. To begin, many churches were built as in a rectangular fashion with a triangular roof and a bell tower jutting forth. Bell towers, whether in operation or not, seem to be universal among the various denominations. Also, several of the churches we visited were fortified in one way or another - some with massive stone walls and others with simple fences and gates. At one time, many of these barriers served important security purposes and, while no longer necessary, still exist today. Lastly, the Gothic style is popular among churches in Transylvania, especially those on the grander scale. Key features of which are ribbed vaults, an emphasis on verticality and light, and pointed arches. The preference toward vertical structures is shown in the fact that many churches appear to be much taller than they are wide, thanks to bell towers. Furthermore, churches’ windows are typically large in scale yet narrow in width.

Fortification

Inside Bell Tower

Gothic Style

By Debbie, Brianna, and Sarah