Rural Romania: Wolf People in Sheep's Clothing

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Rural Romania: Wolf People in Sheep's Clothing
Maramures, Moldavia and Transylvania are regions which have retained an almost medieval simplicity and beauty. In secluded valleys bordered by the Carpathian Mountains and shaded by clouds of plum blossom lie villages with wooden churches and houses where ancient rituals, festivities, clothes and crafts are cherished. To educate this illiterate world the outer walls of late medieval monastic churches were covered with colourful religious frescoes.

[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.636] ’Repentant dog.’ After having been bullied by the watchdog, the two kittens are satisfied onlookers as the culprit, with a guilty look in his eyes, gets scolded by the farmer’s wife. Spring blossom and haystacks round off this idyllic scene in Breb, a small village south of Sighetu Marmatiei in the Maramures. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.648] ’Shepherd near Breb.’ While keeping an eye on her sheep this shepherd has attached her braiding work to a fence. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.655] ’Warm feet.’ Warmed by ‘opinchi’, shoes made after a medieval design, shepherd Ileana Petran is braiding a new woolen belt for her shoulder bag. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.660] ’Weeding a grave.’ A villager of Sîrbi clears a grave of weeds. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.671] ’Spring landscape.’ Surrounded by flowering fruit trees and roofed by traditional wooden boards the houses of Sîrbi are tucked away in the idyllic Cosau valley. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.679] ’Blue cross.’ A simple wooden cross marks a grave on the graveyard of Desesti. The blue colour is a symbol for hope and freedom. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.691] ’Wooden church of Sacalaseni.’ The Maramures is famous for its wooden churches. This one, at Sacalaseni (south of Baia Mare), originally dates from 1442 but was rebuilt in the 17th century. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.697] ’Saved by an angel.’ The devil tries to claim a soul with a list of sins while an angel counters with a register of good deeds in this fresco (1782) by Alexandru Ponehalski inside the ‘Church on the Hill’ at Ieud. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.701] ’Welcomed by Abraham.’ Abraham is welcoming people in his arms in this fresco (1782) by Alexandru Ponehalski inside the ‘Church on the Hill’ at Ieud. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.706] ’Crucifix.’ The crucifix (troita) at Berbesti is a masterpiece of 17th century woodcarving. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.711] ’Suffering Christ.’ The 17th century artist who created the crucifixion scene at Berbesti has succeeded in giving Christ a suffering and resigned look. A few nails aptly evoke the thorn crown on his head. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.717] ’Mourning figure.’ Mourning figure at the foot of the 17th century crucifix at Berbesti. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.722] ’Mourning figure.’ Mourning figure at the foot of the 17th century crucifixion at Berbesti. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.644] ’Village street.’ After a hard day’s work in the field the villagers of Breb spend a peaceful evening in their main street. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.650] ’Shepherd near Breb.’ While keeping an eye on her sheep this shepherd has attached her braiding work to a fence. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.658] ’Warm feet.’ Warmed by ‘opinchi’, shoes made after a medieval design, shepherd Ileana Petran is braiding a new woolen belt for her shoulder bag. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.669] ’Puppies.’ Wearing a ‘clop’, the traditional headdress of the Maramures, this farmer’s son proudly shows his puppies at the village of Sîrbi. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.675] ’Colourful church.’ The church of Strîmtura shimmers as a blue pearl behind the green foliage of its churchyard. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.686] ’Wooden splendour.’ The Maramures is famous for its wooden churches. This one, at Harnicesti, dates from 1728. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.692] ’Church with a view.’ At the medieval wooden ‘Church on the Hill’ in Ieud, there is a wide view across the valley of the Iza. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.699] ’Fed by a raven.’ The prophet Elijah receives food from a raven (1 Kings 17:6) in this fresco (1782) by Alexandru Ponehalski inside the ‘Church on the Hill’ at Ieud. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.704] ’Crucifix.’ The crucifix (troita) at Berbesti is a masterpiece of 17th century woodcarving. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.709] ’Suffering Christ.’ The 17th century artist who created the crucifixion scene at Berbesti has succeeded in giving Christ a suffering and resigned look. A few nails aptly evoke the thorn crown on his head. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.712] ’Mourning figures.’ Mourning figures at the foot of the 17th century crucifix at Berbesti. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ROMANIA.MARAMURES 23.718] ’Mourning figures.’ Mourning figures at the foot of the 17th century crucifix at Berbesti. Photo Mick Palarczyk.