Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sibiu, Sibiu, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Sibiu, Romania, is the Orthodox cathedral of the city and the seat of the Metropolitan of Transylvania. Built in the early 1900s and modelled on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, it is among the most striking Byzantine-style churches in Transylvania. Its dome and richly painted interior stand out among the Gothic and Baroque buildings of Sibiu's historic centre.

The story behind it

The idea of a grand Orthodox cathedral in Sibiu goes back to Metropolitan Andrei Saguna, the leader of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Transylvania in the 19th century. He first raised the plan in 1857, but the money took decades to gather. Construction began only in 1902, once funding was secured, and the church was finished a few years later. The design was the work of architect Jozsef Kommer and Virgil Nagy, a professor at the Budapest Polytechnic, and it draws on the Byzantine tradition of a great central dome.

The interior was painted by Octavian Smigelschi, who won the commission in a competition. His murals blend Byzantine iconography with Romanian folk art and touches of Symbolism. The result is often described as a neo-Byzantine style, and it gives the cathedral a look quite different from the older churches of Transylvania.

What to look for

• The large central dome, which gives the building its Hagia Sophia character and rises above the rooftops of the surrounding streets.
• The interior murals by Octavian Smigelschi, where you can see Byzantine saints painted with a distinctly Romanian palette and decorative detail.
• The two spires on the facade, which set the cathedral apart from the Gothic and Baroque skyline elsewhere in the Old Town.
• The mix of mosaic-like ornament and folk-inspired patterns, which shows how the artist moved beyond strict Byzantine models.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to see the exterior and the interior, longer if you like to study the paintings in detail.
• It is a working church, so dress modestly, keep your voice low and check current opening hours and any limits during services.
• Light inside is gentler in the daytime, and the exterior looks best in soft morning or late afternoon light.
• It sits a short walk from the Old Town's main squares, so it combines easily with a wider stroll through the historic centre.

See it on a quest

You can reach the cathedral on foot as one stop of Medieval Old Town Sibiu: Hidden Stories of the 7 Towers, a self-guided route through the old town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the building properly instead of just passing by. You can start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.