Dúbravica - history of the church
Patronage
Denomination
Origin
Address
- Dúbravica 89, Dúbravica 976 33
- GPS 48.677487, 19.272217
- The church stands in the village by the brook by the main road.
- Nearby is the municipal library and the fire station DHZO Dúbravica.
History
The church was built in the 15th century as a small single nave with a polygonal presbytery and a northern chapel, today serving as a sacristy. The builders of the church were members of the local noble family of Dúbravický, who had their residence nearby.
Apparently not long after the completion of the building, the church was painted during the 16th century, which already in style is an example of the blending of Gothic and Renaissance styles. At the same time, a valuable tabular altar was added to the interior furnishings.
Sometime after the departure of the Dúbravický family from the village (1588), the northern chapel was functionally transformed into a sacristy. As part of this change, they bricked up the wide arch that opened into the nave and created a smaller entrance.
The building also underwent modifications during the Baroque period, when it received new furnishings, of which the main altar of St. Sophie dating back to 1760 has been preserved to this day. It was donated to the church by the members of the Urbáni family, the owners of most of the village at that time.
According to the inscription on the triumphal arch, the church was repaired and painted in 1948. The building was declared a cultural monument in 1963. In 1997 the tower was repaired. Restoration research in 2019 led to the discovery of wall paintings.
Attractions
- The church is a fine example of rural sacral architecture in the late Gothic period.
- From the north side, a sacristy with a cross-rib vault is attached to the nave, but originally it was probably a burial chapel of the local Dúbravický family. Their coat of arms can be found on the vaulting of the sacristy (remains of a painting) and the sanctuary (a stone relief).
- The chapel originally opened into the nave through a wide semicircular arch. There are also three niches – two with a semicircular niche (which may have originally served as a sedilia) and one smaller rectangular niche. A similar chapel can be found in nearby Poniky, where it also dates back to around 1500.
- Restoration research in 2019 also revealed the presence of a brick-built altar canteen near the eastern wall of the present sacristy.
- Rather unusual is the church’s non-high tower – it is octagonal in shape and is located at the north side of the nave above the original chapel.
- The original stone tracery has been preserved in the windows.
- In the western part of the south wall of the nave there is a small rectangular window with a lattice.
- On the south side there is a late Gothic gabled portal, now bricked up.
- The triumphal arch with a slight curve extends to just below the ceiling, which increases the monumentality of the interior space of the small building.
- In 2019, a previously unknown painted decoration was discovered by probes on the interior walls, lining and ribs of the vaults, which was probably obliterated in the 18th century. The wall paintings enrich the fund of fresco decorations preserved in the surrounding churches in Poniky, Čerín.
Current status
The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, under the parish in nearby Poniky, which is administered by the Capuchins. The building is in relatively good condition. In 2019, restoration research was carried out, which led to the discovery of murals in the interior. In 2020, these paintings have made it to the final round of the VUB Foundation Treasures of Slovakia competition. We visited it in February 2017.
Sources