The Old Saint Nicholas Church (Biserica Sfântul Nicolae Veche) is a historic Orthodox church in Râșnov, standing above the old Romanian quarter of Dobrice on the southeastern side of town. Built in 1384, it is one of the oldest surviving Orthodox churches in southeastern Transylvania.
The medieval church was originally much smaller than the building seen today, consisting of a single nave and a polygonal altar. Parts of this early structure survive in the eastern section of the church, together with Gothic architectural details such as buttresses, vaulting and carved stone supports. Archaeological research has also uncovered evidence that some elements may predate the recorded construction of 1384, suggesting that an earlier church or building phase existed on the site.
The church served the Romanian Orthodox community of Râșnov for centuries and was enlarged as the congregation grew. Major work around 1500 rebuilt parts of the nave and introduced new Gothic vaulting, while further extensions followed during the 18th century. Merchants from Brașov helped finance repairs before 1773, and the church reached much of its present form in 1823, when the western section and bell tower were added. A much larger New Saint Nicholas Church was later built nearby, after which this medieval church became known as the Old Saint Nicholas Church.
Successive generations also left their mark on the interior. Fragments of fresco painting survive from the early 18th century alongside later decoration, while the older eastern part of the church still preserves the strongest traces of its medieval origins. The result is a building that developed gradually over several centuries rather than being rebuilt as a completely new church at any single moment.
