| Church of the Nativity of Mary | |
|---|---|
Biserica „Nașterea Fecioarei Maria” | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Patron | Nativity of Mary |
| Year consecrated | 1775 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 13 General Ion Dragalina Boulevard,Timișoara |
 Interactive map of Church of the Nativity of Mary | |
| Coordinates | 45°44′40″N21°12′39″E / 45.74444°N 21.21083°E /45.74444; 21.21083 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1772 |
| Completed | 1774 |
| Website | |
| sanctamariaiosefin | |
TheChurch of the Nativity of Mary is aRoman Catholicchurch in theIosefin district ofTimișoara. It was built between 1772 and 1774 inBaroque style.
TheRoman Catholic parish in theIosefin district was established in 1775 afterTimișoara was liberated from Ottoman rule. Other districts of the city also belonged to the Iosefin parish at that time, such asElisabetin,Mehala andRonaț. All these have become independent parishes over time.
The Roman Catholic church in the Iosefin district is the oldest church in the city after theRoman Catholic Dome inUnion Square and the predecessor of today'sPiarist Church. It was built between 1772 and 1774 in theBaroque style and consecrated in December 1775 by Leonhardus Rothenbach on behalf of the bishop of theDiocese of Cenad,Franz Anton Engl von Wagrain [de].[1] The church was erected in honor of theNativity of Mary, thepatron saint being celebrated on 8 September.
The tower, damaged during thesiege of 1849, was renovated in 1861 by architect Johann von Schuster.[2] The church dominated the surrounding buildings as long as Iosefin had a rural look. The houses had a short facade with a pediment facing the street and a long facade on one side of the plot in the yard, as in the plain villages ofBanat. After Iosefin began to develop rapidly after the connection of Timișoara to the Central European railway system, the Baroque tower of the church seemed too short. That is why in 1889 the sharp spire of the tower was built, which still exists today and which gives the church an unusual slenderness for Baroque buildings.[3] The tower clock was the first and until 1838 the only public clock in the district.[1] The bells of the church were cast in November 1923 in Antal Novotny's workshop.[1]
The architects of the parish church are not known and it is assumed that they were of Viennese origin and were in the service of the Treasury.[4] The building is relatively small, with a sturdy tower, in matureBaroque style with someRococo details.[4] Decorations with plant motifs can be seen on the facade. From 1932 until 2013, the oldest stone statue ofJohn of Nepomuk, made in 1723, which is also the oldest monument in the city, was located in the courtyard of the church; it was restored and relocated in front of theMillennium Church inFabric district.[5]
On the Baroque main altar from 1935, made by László Szántó, there is a portrait of theVirgin Mary from the late 18th century. The benches are by the same artist.[6] The two wooden statues on either side of the main altar, representingSaint Joachim andSaint Anne, date before 1778.[1] The two side altars, in Baroque style, were made in honor ofFrancis of Assisi andSaint Anne.[6] The third altar, inRomanesque style, dates from 1895 and was dedicated to the devotion to theSacred Heart of Jesus.[6]
