Armenian Catholic Church, Șumuleu Ciuc
The construction of the church is closely linked to the Armenians who moved to the Szeklerland in the second half of the 17th century. They arrived in Csíkszépvíz between the middle of the 17th century and the first decades of the 18th century. According to the inscription on the wall behind the main altar, on the site of today's church there was a stone church built in 1701, the material of which was incorporated into the later larger church. The church we see today was built in 1762, financed by the Holy Trinity Association and Passionis Domini, a society dedicated to the Passion of Christ, as well as by organizations from among the people.
In 1768, a wooden tower was attached to the church under construction, in which two bells were placed. The church took its final form in 1785 and was consecrated the same year in honor of the Holy Trinity by Bishop Ignác Batthyány. According to contemporary documents, the church was expanded in 1846, when a portico was built connecting to the southern wall of the nave. Major repairs to the building took place in 1856, and minor renovations were carried out in 1874, 1887 and 1895. In 1925, during a large-scale restoration, the current decorative painting of the church was completed, and the oil paintings on the ceiling were created at the same time. During the restoration, the stained glass windows, made by Richard Schlein from Grottauv (Czech Republic) in 1926, were donated to the church. In 1925, with the painting of the church, the side altars were replaced and the main altar was remodeled.
The first pulpit of the church was built in 1775, which was replaced with a new pulpit in 1860. The current pews of the church, decorated in neo-Gothic style, were built in 1895. The organ dates from 1911, being the work of the Angster József and Sons company from Pécs.
In 1813, the church was surrounded by a wooden fence supported by stone pillars. In 1859, a new stone wall was built around the church and the cemetery to replace the damaged fence. The Holy Family Chapel, attached to the eastern side of the fence, was built in 1820 thanks to the generosity of Antal Száva. The construction of the church is closely connected with the Armenians who moved to the Szeklerland in the second half of the 17th century. They arrived in Csíkszépvíz between the middle of the 17th century and the first decades of the 18th century.
According to the inscription on the wall behind the main altar, on the site of the present church there was a stone church built in 1701, the material of which was incorporated into the later larger church. The church that can be seen today was built in 1762, using the property of the Holy Trinity Association and the Passionis Domini, a society named after the Passion of Christ, as well as collections from organizations among the people. In 1768, a wooden tower was attached to the church under construction, in which two bells were placed. The church took its final form in 1785 and was consecrated in the same year in honor of the Holy Trinity by Bishop Ignác Batthyány. According to contemporary documents, the church was expanded in 1846, when a portico was built connecting to the southern wall of the nave. Major repairs to the building took place in 1856, and minor renovations took place in 1874, 1887 and 1895.
