SINAIA MONASTERY AND THE ROYAL RESIDENCE, IN THE MAGAZINE "FAMILIA" FROM ORADEA, DURING THE DIRECTORSHIP OF IOSIF VULCAN
SINAIA MONASTERY AND THE ROYAL RESIDENCE, IN THE MAGAZINE "FAMILIA" FROM ORADEA, DURING THE DIRECTORSHIP OF IOSIF VULCAN

Summary/Abstract: The article investigates how the magazine Familia (Oradea) constructed the image of Sinaia—as a monastic center and, at the same time, a royal residence—during the directorship of Iosif Vulcan (1865–1906). Based on a corpus of travel notes, news columns, pages from Salon, cultural chronicles, and memorial texts (Carmen Sylva – Queen Elisabeth of Romania), we outline three recurring narrative registers: (1) the documentary description of the monastery and the topography of the Bucegi Mountains, (2) the chronicle of the "court season" (with dynastic rituals, celebrations, official visits, musical culture) and (3) the scenario of accelerated urbanization (Eforia Spitalelor Civile, hotels, school, railway), which transforms the settlement into a city, "as if by magic". Conclusion: Familia functioned as a symbolic observer between the sacred and royalty, noting the presence of the Court within the monastic perimeter and, simultaneously, converting the monastic imaginary into a pole of Romanian modernity. The documents cited chronologically attest to the royal residence within the monastery, the construction site and practical inauguration of Peleș, the dynastic rituals (baptisms, anniversaries), as well as the consecration of the new church of monastery (1902) in the presence of the entire court.

• Details
• Contents