In the context of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania to Jucu, Via Cluj TV has published spectacular footage capturing this historic moment. Alongside Mayor Valentin Dorel Pojar, HRH Prince Radu of Romania inaugurated one of the most beautiful statues dedicated to Queen Marie.
This statue honours the sovereign of the Great Union, who stands as the most significant female historical figure in Romanian history over the last millennium. Queen Marie of Romania continues to fascinate and inspire today’s generations of Romanians who love their country. The statue was crafted in 2025, marking the 150th anniversary of her birth, but was inaugurated in 2026, coinciding with the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Romanian Dynasty. Furthermore, 2026 marks the centenary of her memorable visit to the United States of America, which turned into a veritable triumphal march.
The public ceremony, organised by the team led by Mayor Valentin Dorel Pojar, was attended by prominent figures of Romanian public life. These included His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania; His Grace Samuel Cristea, Vicar Bishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj; Ioan Aurel Pop, President Emeritus of the Romanian Academy for the period 2018–2026; and Professor Vasile Pușcaș, Romania’s former Chief Negotiator with the European Union and a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy. Notable intellectuals also participated, such as the Director of the ‘George Barițiu’ Institute of History of the Romanian Academy, Professor Ioan Bolovan (corresponding member of the Romanian Academy); the Director of the UBB CORE Centre, historian Leonard Horvath (lecturer at Babeș-Bolyai University and former State Secretary); Professor Stelian Tofană from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology; and Flavius Milășan, Director of the ‘Dumitru Fărcaș’ Students’ Culture House in Cluj-Napoca.
Civil authorities were represented by figures such as Vákár István, Vice-President of the Cluj County Council; members of the Romanian Parliament, including MPs Remus Lăpușan and Ramona Bruynseels; county councillors; and mayors of several localities along the Someșul Mic Valley. The military authorities were represented by General Bogdan Cernat, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division ‘Gemina’, and Colonel Sebastian Clițan from the Romanian Gendarmerie. Civil society was represented by personalities such as Valentin Lungu, Vice-President of the National Alliance for the Restoration of the Monarchy; Dan Dumitrana, founder of the Transylvanian Royal Choir; Marius Pop, Chairman of the Bistrița Monarchists’ Club; Cornel Jurju, Chairman of the Cluj Monarchists’ Club; Eugen Moț, President of the Cluj Art Association; and Ionuț Coman, member of the International Academy of Saint Mauritius.
The statue of Queen Marie was sculpted by master Liviu Plugărescu, set within a small public square designed according to a concept by Adrian Goga. The consecration service was conducted by a synod of Orthodox priests, though Greek-Catholic and Neo-Protestant clergy were also invited to the ceremony. The music was performed by the military brass band and the ‘Voci Transilvane’ Choir, conducted by master Adrian Corojan.
Effectively, this ceremony marked a historic moment for the commune of Jucu, a locality with a nearly millennial history and the birthplace of George Barițiu, the founder of the Romanian-language press in Transylvania. He was the editor of Gazeta de Transilvania, President of the Romanian Academy, President of ASTRA, and Vice-President of the Romanian National Assembly at Blaj in 1848. A Greek-Catholic historian and theologian, George Barițiu was also an MP in the Transylvanian Diet and a member of the Imperial Senate in Vienna.
The memory of Queen Marie of Romania and her historical significance in the recognition of Transylvania’s union with the Kingdom of Romania were the themes of the conference titled ‘Queen Marie and Transylvania’. The conference was hosted by the Wild Hills Centre in Jucu.
The moderator of the conference was historian Leonard Horvath, lecturer at Babeș-Bolyai University and Director of the UBB CORE Centre. Leonard Horvath has also served as Director-General of the Romanian Copyright Office, President of the National Cultural Fund Administration, and Director of the County Directorate for Culture and National Heritage.
Among the speakers was the Mayor of Jucu, Valentin Dorel Pojar, who initiated the project to place a statue of Queen Marie of Romania in the centre of the commune. This statue was inaugurated in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania.
The floor was then taken by historian Ioan Bolovan, corresponding member of the Romanian Academy and Director of the ‘George Barițiu’ Institute of History. This institute pays tribute to the memory of the most illustrious figure born in Jucu, the historian and journalist George Barițiu, founder of the Romanian-language press in Transylvania. Ioan Bolovan is a professor at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj.
Professor Cornel Cătoi, Rector of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj, also addressed the conference. He is a member of the Honour Council of the National Alliance for the Restoration of the Monarchy. The Cluj university led by Professor Cornel Cătoi was awarded the Nihil Sine Deo Royal Decoration by Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania. Furthermore, the Cluj university is currently constructing the largest equine hospital in this part of Europe within the commune of Jucu.
Cluj MP Remus Lăpușan, representing the PSD, spoke as well. He evoked personal memories of how the memory of Queen Marie of Romania was preserved within his family.
The Reverend Professor Stelian Tofană, a faculty member of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at Babeș-Bolyai University, also spoke during the event.
Next to the microphone was County Councillor Laura Pop-Chiorean, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a prominent figure within the Cluj branch of the Romanian Red Cross. She also served as Vice-President of the Romanian Red Cross Society during the period it was led by Queen Marie’s great-granddaughter, Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania. Currently, the Romanian Red Cross operates under Her Majesty’s High Patronage.
The blessing was then delivered by the Vicar Bishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, His Grace Samuel Cristea. The event concluded with a concert performed by the ‘Voci Transilvane’ Choir of the ‘Dumitru Fărcaș’ Students’ Culture House in Cluj-Napoca, a cultural institution led by Flavius Milășan.
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