The wooden church in Posta destroyed by fire

Yet another traditional church lost forever.

Over the weekend, I took a break from following the news. It wasn’t until today that I saw what happened Friday night in Maramureș. The wooden church in Posta (Pusztafentős), in the commune of Remetea Chioarului, Maramureș County, was engulfed in flames, most likely after being struck by lightning during the storm.

Although the year of construction is said to be 1675, the church was most likely a newer one, built by Greek Catholics between 1835 and 1839, consecrated in 1839, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. During the communist era, following the ban on Greek Catholicism, the church’s patron saint was changed to Saint Elijah, and it became the property of the Orthodox Church.

The church that was destroyed by fire was classified as a Category A historical monument. The Maramureș-style church stood out for the harmony and balance among its various elements. At the top of the bell tower, rising above the narthex, stood a distinctive cross featuring a crescent moon—a characteristic element of Greek Catholic churches in Maramureș. The porch was supported by four massive oak pillars joined by wide, intricately crafted arches. The church still retained some of its interior frescoes, a beautiful iconostasis with intricately crafted royal doors, and icons painted on wood.