Resurrection Chapel from Voievodeasa (Fürstenthal)

I D E A S I N GL A S S

„QUOD EST CHRISTUS ERIMUS” What Christ is we shall become.

S A C C E L U M R E S U R R E C TI O N I S R E S U R R E C T I O N C H A PE L from Voievodeasa (Fürstenthal)

According to legend, a princess, whose name remains unknown, was wondering through this valley and got lost. While her father was searching for her, she found shelter with some shepherds from the area. From then on, the valley was called The valley of the Princess. In Romanian, princess means voievodeasa, hence the name of the village, Voievodeasa.

Tradition tells us that when the first German colonists arrived from Bohemia in 1803, they were astonished by the beauty of the valley, uninhabited by that time, which spread across 10 km and was bordered to one side by a 1000 m ridge. A beautiful, fairytale­like place, rich in natural wonders and with a fragrant mountain atmosphere. The German settlers called the valley Fürstenthal, the valley of the prince.

As the colonists were Catholic, they initially built a wooden chapel in 1820 and started the construction of the current church in 1830. The church was finished in 1867 and was consecrated in 1887 by Archbishop Kozielko Puzyna.

After the relocation of the Germans in 1940, the church was taken over by Orthodox believers, while the Catholics, small in numbers, celebrated mass in a small chapel, built inside the old parish house. After the fall of communism, the church was returned to the Catholics, in 1995. With the support of the believers, especially from the family of Ionel and Elena Zaremba, the church was completely restored and consecrated by the Bishop of Iasi, Petru Gherghel on the 3rd of July 2005.

Also after the fall of the communist regime, the local cemetery was restored and the construction of the Resurrection Chapel ­ Saccellum Ressurectionis ­ began in 2012. The chapel, with a Romanic­style tower, modest in size, but rich in symbols and meaning is the result of the prayer and theological reflection of Father Dr. Eduard Ferenţ. The mosaics as well as the stained glass were created in Iasi at the Art Georgies – Mosaicart Center, led by Virgil MORARU.

The Resurrection Chapel in Fürstenthal – Voievo­ deasa was built in 2013 and was dedicated to Christ, our Risen Lord, with the hope that What Christ is we shall become (St. Cyprian). At the entrance of the chapel, on the left side, a marble stone inscribed with the following words was placed: „IN REI MEMORIAM!

Today, 11th of October 2012, when we celebrate 50 years since the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, when the Holy Father Benedict XVI inaugurated the Year of Faith (11.10.2012­ 24.11.2013), while at Iasi, Bishop Petru Gherghel looked over the Part of God’s People the Holy Spirit had granted unto him, while Father Iosif Rachiteanu was parish priest of the Roman­Catholic Parish of Radauti, the Catholic community of Fürstenthal­ Voievodeasa, grateful to the almighty God, has built this chapel – Saccelum Resurrectionis – dedicated to the resurrection of our Lord, through the faithful generosity of the Catholic family of Ioan and Elena Zaremba, with the help of the architect Gheorghe Hereş from Iasi and Father Dr. Eduard Ferenţ, coordinator of its theological significance.

In Christo salus!

Pr. Dr. Eduard Ferenţ

THE HISTORY OF OUR SALVATION CARPET The history of our salvation carpet at the Chapel entrance is represented by the seven stars framed by the marble lines which guide them to the altar. The Latin inscription OICONOMIA SALUTIS – the economy of salvation – symbo­ lizes the history of the progressive revelation of the Holy Spirit, given to us by The Branch from Jesse (Isaiah 11, 1­3), Messiah.

CHRISTUS PANTOCRATOR Christus Pantocrator, Christ Panthocreator is illustrated by the stained glass above the entrance door. The picture shows Christ as “The One who is”, as “Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 1,8)

JESUS SWEATS BLOOD Jesus sweats blood (Luke 22, 39­46), mystery through which Jesus accepts the chalice of suffering in order to fulfill His Father’s will to save mankind and begs for us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of His Easter mystery.

THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS The victory of the Cross (John 19,30). The last words of Jesus on the cross: “It is finished” pro­ claim the complete fulfillment of the Father’s plan for the salvation of mankind. The victory of the One Crucified for the redemption of all beings, of the whole universe, through the price of his blood.

THE LORD APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE The Lord appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20, 11足18). The new features of the Risen Lord make Mary Magdalene mistake him for a gardener. Only the personal revelation of the Lord opens her mind in order to recognize the One Crucified in the One Risen from the dead.

THE LORD BREATHS THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Lord breaths the Holy Spirit (John 19, 22足 23). The Risen One breaths the gift of the Holy Spirit, the outstanding result of His death and glo足 rious resurrection, giving It to the Apostles and through them, to us. The Spirit of holiness who resurrected Him from the dead (Romans 1,4), will resurrect us from the dead as well (Romans 8, 22足 24).

THE LORD PREACHED BY THE GOSPELS

The Lord preached by the Gospels (Ezekiel 2, 1­10; 3, 1­9; Revelations 1, 4­8). The four symbols, the angel, the lion, the ox and the vulture, presenting us each Gospel, represent the four authors of the Gospel who proclaim the mystery of the Risen One from the center of the resurrection picture. The flowers that accompany the sheep that represent us, all facing the Lord, symbolize the hope of the Christians in the resurrection to come. (Romans 8, 22­25).

THE MOTHER OF GOD FIRST RESURRECTED

The Mother of God first resurrected. The first to be resurrected and brought to heaven by the Lord is His mother, Mary. The apostles sur­ rounding her grave praise the glorious resur­ rection of the Lord in her body and soul, which were lifted in her Son’s glory. The Mother of God is the real and living image of our joyful resur­ rection.

THE SPIRIT OF RESURRECTION IS MAN’S FULFILLMENT The Spirit of Resurrection is man’s fulfillment (Romans 8, 14­17; Galatians 4,6). The Holy Spi­ rit, whom Messiah, the branch of Jesse, received in full for us (Isaiah 11, 1­3), is the fulfillment of the Christian, because He will resurrect us, just like with Christ (Romans 8,11).

THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY The catholic cemetery in FÜRSTENTHAL – VOIEVODEASA is the sacred memorial of those who preceded us in meeting the Lord. The gate itself proclaims the resurrection to come through the symbols Λ and Ω – alpha and omega and the two angels who invite us to walk through the Gate of Life, Christ the Lord, so that by believing in him we would inherit eternal life (John 3,15).

THE VICTORIOUS CROSS Monument erected by the community of VOIE足 VODEASA in their cemetery, as a pious memo足 rial of their departed ones.

CRUX SALUTIS The Salvation Cross was erected in 2013 on top of the hill next to the Touristic Complex VOIEVOD from Voievodeasa, as a sign of hope and of blessing of the village by the Risen One.

Voievodeasa is part of the Suceviţa community in the Suceava county.

The village is located at the base of the Obcina Mare mountain, 16 km away from Rădăuţi.

From the national road 17A, there are 800 m until the Resurrection Chapel, and from the Touristic Complex „Voievod” there are 2.3 km Between the Chapel and the St. Peter and Paul Church there are approximately 1.9 km.

Between the Touristic Complex “Voievod” and the church there are approximately 3.6 km.

Descriptions and explanations: Father. Dr. Eduard Ferenţ Translation: Andrei Şmid Photography and design: engineer Ioan Şmid Printing: engineer Ioan Şmid ©2013