St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (Banská Bystrica, Slovakia)
The popularly even Kapitulský kostol ( German Chapter Church ) Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier (Slovak Katedrála svätého Františka Xaverského ), is a church in the center of Banská Bystrica, central Slovakia and at the same time the cathedral church of the Diocese of Banská Bystrica. It is dedicated to Francis Xavier and is located on the square of SNP.
On the place of the present church was in 1503 a civil house of a rich citizen named Michael Konigsberg, who was a patron of many religious buildings in the city and surrounding areas. In the house itself there was a Gothic chapel of St. John the Baptist, who, when all the churches in the city under Protestant control were in the 16th century, was the only place where even Catholic services were held. In 1647 the Jesuits were in Konigsberg house down to counteract the Reformation and built from 1695 to 1701 at the Konigsberg land a college.
In 1702 the Order to build the new collegiate church of St. Francis Xavier began, after the pattern of the Church of the Gesù in Rome. But only a year later conquered the insurgents of Francis II Rákóczi, the city Banská Bystrica and many Jesuits were forced to leave the city of Banska Bystrica. Only after the Habsburg reconquest of the construction could resume in 1709 and was completed in 1715 and consecrated on 24 September 1715. The baroque church nave with six side chapels had choirs throughout the area and the front facade was then without towers. 1773 had to leave the church, the Jesuits, as the Jesuits by Pope Clement XIV was lifted. 1776 Finally, the church became the seat of the Diocese of Banská Bystrica.
1844 was renewed the ship and the page choirs in a large construction project. For this purpose, a consistory was created and the front received two towers, between which a main portal was built with four pillars. 1880 transformed to the " onion-like " looking towers and added a romantic Balle Trade. A large remodeling followed then only in the 1970s, the interior has been completely redesigned and re- painted along with the facade. The exterior was renovated in 1999 and 2003, the church received a pipe organ.
Swell
- Katedrála sv. Františka Xaverského Banská Bystrica (PDF, 57 kB)