The church was built in the second half of the 14th century as a towerless Gothic basilica with two side choirs. The central nave and the main choir rise higher than the side aisles, and all choirs have polygonal endings. The interior is covered with stone rib vaults, while the exterior walls are supported by buttresses.
The church is particularly notable for its rich decorative elements: keystones, capitals, and window tracery display Gothic ornamentation, in some places still preserving traces of original color. Fragments of frescoes can be seen in the choir. Some keystones depict religious symbols, including Christ and a pelican, a symbol of sacrifice.
The south portal dates to around 1405. The richly articulated west portal stands out with its sculptural decoration and a tympanum depicting the Crucifixion. The year 1451, inscribed in the church, marks the completion of the main construction phase.
Over time, the building underwent several modifications: around 1500, the side choirs were altered and a sacristy was added. Further repairs and additions are documented from the 17th to the 19th centuries, including the organ gallery and the small roof turret added in 1847.
A remarkable feature is the Gothic sacrament niche in the choir, decorated with a pelican motif—symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice.
Place and surroundings
Before Richiş became one of the most prosperous villages in Mediaş and before diligent people founded the locality, the place was rough and swampy. Only wild animals lived among the reed, the willow trees and the thistles. As a memory of those times, the elegant coat of arms of the village was created, showing a heron stepping gracefully through an infinite lake, guided by Venus under a red sky. Water birds often appear on European coats of arms, probably due to the allegory of the pelican, this bird being adopted in the iconography as a symbol of the Saviour, of Jesus. They say that the pelican tore up its chest, letting his hot blood gush out through its white feathers, in order to revive its breathless chickens.
In the church of Richiş this mythical bird finds a reputed place on the crown of the chancel, being one of the precious art works of the place.
Contact:
Consistoriul districtual Mediaș
0269/843/228
