Hateg. The country of stone churches

On the 31st of January 2008, the third volume of Igloo returning patrimony series (Hateg) has been released at the Romanian Peasant's Club: Hateg. The country of stone churches. It represents an illustrated monograph of some of the oldest stone churches situated on an historical and legendary territory: The country of Hateg, the establishment where there were formed the first Knyazs' and hospodars' organizations in the country. Important for the reclaiming of the cultural past, the churches which have been present since XIII-XVI centuries, distinguish themselves through the parietal painting that is still visible, but finding itself in an advanced form of degradation. This photo album has been conceived in order to preserve a significant testify of the collective memory, in the same time pointing out the need of restoration of some religious monuments of incontestable patrimony value.
(Igloo media presentation)

The album dedicates one more time the graphic scheme of the previous books in the collection: the general views, significant details, whose expressiveness is emphasized by bilingual writings (Romanian-English). Along with the exteriors of the 16 churches and frescoes fragments, that were more or less adequate maintained, we find chandeliers, curtains, cloths, spouts, things that are difficult for us to believe that they could be find within patrimony monuments. The endless argue between the patrimonial purism supporters, who intend to eliminate the plastic flowers and the gas burners from all cultural establishments, and the ones who sustain popular piety, who consider that the devoutness of the Christians should be allowed to be demonstrated as well in the church, among things that are familiar to them, it is illustrated in the best way possible by this album. Nevertheless, the problem of the restorations with inadequate and cheap materials because of the lack of resources for a favorable preservation it is also debated. Last, but not the least, it is important to realize that every page of the album is an invitation for visiting the country of stone churches. These are just a few of the premises offered by this album, beautiful itself as an object, to the reader.
(Madalina Mirea)