Wooden Church Search Begins

We had quite a day today, saw lots of country, some great buildings, a whole lot of Slovaks, including a group of school kids on a field trip, but the crown jewel of our travels today was visiting the Wooden Articlar Church at Hronsek. What a magnificent edifice!  Entirely built of wood, even the single chandelier, and entirely original from 1725.  This is a living breathing church, used for worship every Sunday now for 285 years. The wood, preserved by beeswax, shows the wear and tear of years of praying, sitting and kneeling. This is one of only three Lutheran Articular Churches in existence although there were about thirty built. From a historical perspective it is interesting to note that Slovakia was predominately Protestant and Lutheran following the Reformation. The Habsburgs were responsible for the recatholicisation of Slovakia in the 1600's. A number of protestants were martyred in this process. It was in 1681 that Emperor Leopold the first was pressured by "the Slovak King" Count Thokoly, who happens to be buried in the Lutheran Church in Kesmarok, to let them build some Lutheran Churches in Slovakia. Thirty two were allowed and they had to strictly follow the articles 25and 26 of the Treaty of Sopron. Hence the name Articul;ar Churches. The articles or rules are as follows: all wood, no nails, no steeples, no doors facing the road, must be built out of town and had to be finished in one year.  I suppose the thinking was that no one would see a church without a steeple, they might not be able to find the door, but most importantly they probably believed that these churches would be of sloppy, shortlived constuction, and would last only a short time. Wrong! This church holds 1100 worshippers, all who can see the altar and pulpit, worship has been held for some 285 years, and by the look of the place will continue indefinately. This church and property was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2008, insuring its careful mainenance for perpetuity. Being a wood nut (certified), I can't tell you how the details in the building of this House of Worship thrilled me. I share with you today not the castles we saw or the majestic mountains or the many other church edifaces, but this simple wooden church.

 The church is in the shape of a cross and is two stories tall.  There is seating on three sides facing the altar on the first floor.  On the second floor there is seating on three sides with the organ and seating for the choir on the fourth side.  The doorway pictured is on the side of the church and is matched by another doorway on the opposite side of the church.  Notice the details on the door, the porch roof and the walls.

 This is a detail photo of the method of wood joinery used.  Note the use of oak pegs.  For the engineers among you, note the bearing of the load.

 The altar and the pulpit are trimmed in real gold.  The scene portrayed behind the altar can be changed for each season of the church year.  The organ is above the altar.  When we went upstairs, the woman who was our "guide" invited Carolyn to play the organ.  Unfortunately, she does not know how.

 The ceiling in the structure are barrel vaults which come together at the crossing and it is there that the gold chandelier, made of wood, hangs.

 Hopefully these Slovak Lutheran preachers do not preach long sermons!  Take a look at these pews which show a lot of wear but do not seem to be exuding a lot of comfort.

 Remember how one of the articles said no steeples?  They built it across the street and called it something else.

This is the kind woman who showed us the inside of the church and all of its treasures.  Each time she made a point, in Slovak of course, she would poke the pastor from Alaska.  She lives next door, is a member of the church, has a key and devotes her time to sharing this beautiful treasure.  Sola de Gloria!