Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine
About Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine
The wooden church in Margine, a village in Abram commune, was built around 1700 and is regarded as the oldest church of its kind in Bihor County. It is dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel and is a historic monument (LMI code BH-II-m-A-01174). It can be seen from afar: its slender, shingle-clad tower rises above the village.
The building is made of logs hewn with an axe and shares its features with the old peasant houses of the Barcău valley. The plan is rectangular, with a stepped, five-sided altar apse, and on the long side, where the entrance is, as well as at the end facing the street, it has a covered porch, like the houses of the village. The interior painting dates from 1780, the year the iconostasis was painted in oils by Nechita the Painter. In 1899 the painter Hackman Mor redid most of the paintwork, with flowers and leaves in shades of fresh green and purple.
What you can see
Inside are the iconostasis of 1780, six icons painted on wood, an antimension of 1750 and old books, among them a Book of Homilies of 1742, an Anthologion of 1745 and a Gospel of 1750. The altar table rests on a leg of oak carved with folk motifs. The village's old cemetery surrounds the church.
Good to know
In the summer of 2024 the association "Ambulanța pentru Monumente Bihor" carried out stabilisation work: the damaged shingles on the nave and the tower were replaced with hand-made split shingles. The church is no longer the village's main place of worship, which is a new church; no official visiting schedule appears in the sources consulted.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The slender shingle tower, visible from afar above the village.
- The wooden porch on the long side and at the end facing the street, as on a peasant house.
- The iconostasis painted in oils in 1780 by Nechita the Painter.
- The oak leg of the Holy Table, carved with folk motifs.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Margine is part of Abram commune, in Bihor County. According to the România Atractivă page, the church stands on a plateau in the southern part of the village, reached via the DN19B.
Public transport: no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option.
- Where to park
No equipped car park is confirmed; one can stop next to the church without blocking the road.
- Rules
This is a place of worship: dress modestly and keep quiet. Entering the interior requires an appointment, and photography inside is only with the permission of the person who opens the church.
Frequently asked questions about Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine
- How long does a visit to Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine take?
- A visit to Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine takes about 30 min (exterior, churchyard and cemetery).
- Can you visit Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine with kids?
- Yes, Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine is suitable for children (open churchyard, no hazards).
- Where can I park at Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine?
- There is free parking at Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine (next to the church). No equipped car park is confirmed; one can stop next to the church without blocking the road.
- How do I get to Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine?
- Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine is located at Margine, comuna Abram, Margine, Bihor County. By car: Margine is part of Abram commune, in Bihor County. According to the România Atractivă page, the church stands on a plateau in the southern part of the village, reached via the DN19B. Public transport: no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option.
- When is the best time to visit Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine?
- The best season for Wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Margine: April – October (summer, for the road and the churchyard).
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