User:Laura Palevičová/sandbox

St. Catherina's Church (Banska Stiavnica)


St. Catherina's Church is late Gothic temple located in the town in the heart of Slovakia – Banska Stiavnica.

Construction and Consecration
Construction is dated between 1488 and 1491 and the temple was consecrated in 1500. Fifty years later it was promoted to the status of parish church. The year 1491 is stated also as the year when the church was established. Older resources indicate construction began in 1443 or 1444, what corresponds to time, when Banska Stiavnica citizens moved to area of nowadays town after the old town was destroyed. From 1580 to 1675 during the period of the Reformation, it belonged to the Lutheran church and in 1658, when mass began to be preached in the Slovak language, that’s why it is called "the slovak church“.

Investors
Wealthy families of mining enterpreneurs, owners of the houses located on the main St. Trinity Square were the most probable investors of St. Catherinas' church.

Position
The church is located on the quite steep slope of the brink on the lower part of St. Trinity Square on intersection of the main communication axes of Banska Stiavnica. It is North-West – South-East oriented. It has a dominant location directly in the city center, on the crossroad of two most significant middleages communications - nowadays St.Trinity Square and Andrej Kmet street.

Disposition
The church is a late Gothic single nave space. Polygonal chapel is merging with the aisle and the western chorus. Characteristic late Gothic buttress pillars incorporated inside the composition. Between these pillars, on the northern side of the nave, are embeded three Gothic chapels. From the main space, next to the presbytery, exite the sacristy. Storeyed space in the South-Western corner of the nave was in lower part used also as a chapel, upstairs it extends chorus itself, allowing access directly from outside. It has barrel vaults ended with lunettes. Beneath the church, there is a crypt, where majors and important burgesses where burried. An original entrance portal is located on the western facade of the church. In the upper corners are figural cantilevers. Above the portal is painted town blazon with the year 1555 (when the church was turned into parish). In the last quarter of the 18th century the Baroque chapel of St. John of Nepomucene was added to the church. Its pastel violet color sets the chapel off like a little jewel against the monumental grey walls of the church.

Interior
The nave is full covered by the star-shaped net vault. These grid vaults extend to figural cantilevers in the main space. It is very similar to the nave vault of St. Cross church in Kezmarok. Due to this similarity and similarity of interior figural decoration is anticipated, that the same masons worked on the both churches. Side chapels are opened into the nave by pointed archs and are vaulted by mainly net star-shaped grid vaults.

Exterior
The present-day facades have been reconstructed according to their original appearance. From exterior, the church has clearly recognizable late Gothic elements. Bearing system stand out from the nave by 6 bear retreat pillars on each side. Between these pillars has been built single chapels. Facades are partly made from stone and partly covered with plaster. The roof was covered with copper sheet in the year 1656.

Inventory
From the original Gothic inventory maintained valuable rich decorated stone baptistery from 16th century and cross from 15th century. The statue of Mary, very valuable wooden statue from the year 1506, comes from the original mail altar, have been preserved until today. Dating from the beginning of the 16th century, wall painting depicting the Last Judgement located on the South wall of the sanctuary is being restored. It is the largest of its type in Slovakia. The church's original furnishing has changed in the 18th century. From the seven Baroque altars installed at that time, preserved the main, columned altar of St. Catherine from the year 1727 (and restored in 1887). Along with the altar, also the painting of St. Catherine's betrothal with Christ has been preserved until today, which is attributed to the painter J.G. Grossmayr. The altar paintings were originally changed according to the liturgic periods of the year. By the side cantilevers we can find statues of St. Barbara and St. Margita.