
21/07/2025
Domnița Bălașa Church - Bucharest.
(Lady Bălașa Church)
Domnița Bălașa (Lady Bălașa) Church is an orthodox church situated on Strada Sfinții Apostoli nr. 60, ector 5, Bucharest, located behind the apartment blocks, to to the west of Unirii Square.
The name of the church comes from the first church built on this site, in 1745, by the Lady Bălașa, who was the sixth daughter of ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu (1654 – 1714, ruler of Wallachia between the years 1688 – 1714) and of Lady Ma**ca Brâncoveanu (1661 – 1729).
The original church was weakened by a strong earthquake in 1838, requiring it to be demolished and rebuilt in 1842.
Later damaged by the flooding of the Dâmbovița River in 1871, the church was again demolished.
The church that we see today was built over 4 years, from 1881 to 1885, during the reign of king Carol the 1st and Queen Elisabeth in Byzantine style (a cross-shaped plan with a polygonal apse of the altar), with Gothic elements built to the design of architect Alexandru Orăscu, assisted by Carol Benesch together with Friedrich Hartman and approved by the French architect André Lecomte du Noüy.
The church was damaged by the earthquake in 1947 and then again in 1977 with extensive restoration work being carried out after both quakes.
Over time the church was rebuilt and renovated but has successfully retained its authentic charm.
Inside the church, in a niche, there is the tomb of Lady Bălașa (1693-1752) loccated on the right hand side.
The monument of Lady Bălașa is called "Sadness" and is the work of sculptor Ion Georgescu, made in 1884 in white marble decorated with rosettes, a small sarcophagus is mounted, also carved, with rows of denticles, coats of arms, lily flowers and laurels, above which an angel stands guard.
On the left or the north side, in a niche, we have the grave of Lady Zoe Brâncoveanu (1805 – 1892) who was the first wife of the ruler of Wallachia – Gheorghe Bibescu (between the years January 1843 to June 1848).
The lady died in Bucharest in 1892 and the family decided to bury her in her ancestor’s church. The statue was realized by the French sculptor Jules Roulleau in marble of Carrara in 1895.
It depicts Zoe Brâncoveanu held by an angel, with a woman and child at her feet.
The interior painting was done by two Viennese artists in Renaissance style.
The monument of Lady Bălașa ,in the park of the church, was sculpted by Karl Stork in 1881.
On the base of the pedestal, under the coat of arms , is written “Domnița Bălașa, daughter of Constantin Basarab Brâncoveanu, ruler of Țara Românească (Wallachia) founded this settlement in the year 1751.”
Today the beautiful Lady Bălașa church is part of the orthodox Christian faith in Bucharest, hosting masses, weddings and baptisms on a daily basis.