Fortified Churches
RichişThe Lutheran church in Richiş has some remarkable features that make it stand out from others in the Transylvanian fortified church landscape. For a long time the church was used by a monastic order. At the time of the Reformation, the monks were expelled by the villagers and the church became the property of the municipality. The three-nave basilica without a tower, built in the 14th century, was originally surrounded by a ring with two defense towers including a battlement. What distinguishes it from other village churches today is the rich ornamentation and architectural sculpture: the funnel portal in the west, the ribs of the vaults supported by columns and pilasters with capitals, the vault apexes decorated with masks, and the variously decorated tracery windows. The double triumphal arch is an indication that the construction of a tower was originally planned here.
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Fortified Churches
RichişThe Lutheran church in Richiş has some remarkable features that make it stand out from others in the Transylvanian fortified church landscape. For a long time the church was used by a monastic order. At the time of the Reformation, the monks were expelled by the villagers and the church became the property of the municipality. The three-nave basilica without a tower, built in the 14th century, was originally surrounded by a ring with two defense towers including a battlement. What distinguishes it from other village churches today is the rich ornamentation and architectural sculpture: the funnel portal in the west, the ribs of the vaults supported by columns and pilasters with capitals, the vault apexes decorated with masks, and the variously decorated tracery windows. The double triumphal arch is an indication that the construction of a tower was originally planned here.
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The numerous keystones bear rich plastic decoration. The original color scheme can be seen in many places on the architectural sculpture.
The church has three portals, the pointed-arched southern portal dates from around 1405. The northern portal is profiled inwards, which may mean that there was a connection to a monastery building here. The richly decorated west portal shows a Crucifixion in high relief. In the center of the depiction is a partially existing figure of Christ, alongside Mary Magdalene and John, on the right two riders with horses. Five angels can be seen in the upper area.
The sacramental niche in the north wall of the chancel is flanked by square pillars resting on leaf corbels. The upper end is formed by a pointed triangle (German: "Wimperg"), crowned by a finial. In the gable field is a pelican depiction.
It stands 8 m west of the church and was part of the ring wall that surrounded the church. On old depictions the tower has a battlement. Up to a height of 5 m you can see the beginnings of the demolished circular wall.
Today's baroque altar is the work of Johann Folbarth from Sighisoara and was erected in 1775. In the center is a wooden sculpture of the Crucified, flanked by John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
The pneumatic baroque organ was made by Johannes Prause in 1788. In 1792 the case was painted and gilded. The organ has a manual and 12 registers.
The church was surrounded by an oval curtain wall, remains of which have survived to the west, south and east. In the south-east there is a fortification tower with a rectangular ground plan and a pitched roof sloping inwards. The tower has decorative cast holes and loopholes.
| 1283 | Heinrich of Richiș is among the pastors of the Mediaș chapter, who are listed by name on the occasion of the agreement with the Alba Iulia chapter about the tithe. This is the first documented mention of Richiș. |
|---|---|
| 1350-1400 | Construction of a towerless Gothic basilica with two side choirs. |
| 1451 | The year 1451 can be read on a keystone of the central nave and in an inscription above the triumphal arch, thus documenting the completion of the most important construction phase. |
| 1532 | 152 families live in the village |
| 1555 | Richiș is called a market. It has its own court. |
| 1600 | In the course of the civil war, the town and the vicarage were burned down. The fortified church is plundered. |
| 1644 | Fire in the village. |
| 1661-1662 | The plague is rampant in the village. "The Turks lay in the village street for another 10 weeks and even in front of the vicarage." |
| 1702 | Most of the village burns down. |
| 1900 | 119 males and 40 females from Richiș live in America. Another 4 people are in Australia. |
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