Moftinul Mare - The Roman Catholic Church of “The Assumption of the Holy Virgin”

The priest of the village is mentioned in the papal tithes of year 1332, but the church, dedicated to St Ladislas was mentioned only in the 15th century. The community became Calvinist, during the 16th century. Sándor Károlyi moved the Calvinist families from Moftin, and settled here catholic Schwabs, in the first half of the 18th century. The parish was founded in 1724, but the church was destroyed in a fire, in 1791. The second church was made according to the plan of Joseph Bitthauser, in the period between 1793 and 1795. The monumental edifice reveals a sophisticated plan: the façade has three axes and prominent cornices held by six pillars with capitals in Doric style. Three doors, and above each, a window is opened between the pillars, framed with arched cornices. The windows of the façade have the same width with those of the nave. In accordance with the classic architecture, on the upper levels, the tower has pillars with Ionic and Corinthic capitals, The clock tower has an onion bulb shaped steeple, and a lantern. The decorations on the tower appear also on the wall of the nave. The roof of the nave and sanctuary is vaulted. The tabernacle of the main altar was made in Vienna for the cathedral of Satu Mare, and was later donated to the church of Moftinu Mare by the bishop János Hám. The structure of the altar is simple, only the tympanum of the cornice emphasizes the monumental altar-painting of Assumption of the Holy Virgin. The Viennese master Heinrich Bauer made the painting in 1864. Under the windows, in the apse, the Apostles are depicted. The pulpit and the two secondary altars were made in the 19th century. (TSz).