Church of the Mother of God

Church of the Mother of God, Svete gore above Bistrica ob Sotli in Slovenia... more

by Ivan Slosar

Title

Church of the Mother of God

Artist

Ivan Slosar

Medium

Photograph

Description

Church of the Mother of God, Svete gore above Bistrica ob Sotli in Slovenia

Svete gore is an ancient pilgrimage site. Mary’s church was first mentioned in 1265 as Monte Criste Marie. The present building on the site of the previous church dates to the 17th century and was consecrated in 1611 by Bishop Tomaž Hren. More than a hundred years, later the church was extensively expanded.
The local people say that the church was built by the Counts of Königsberg (Kunšperk). The Countess was riding one day to Podsreda Castle and lost her way in the woods. On the very same spot where the church is today, she got entangled in some bushes and thorns and could not get out. She took a vow to have a church built there if she could free herself from the thorny bushes. The oldest preserved votive painting from 1680 also tells this story.
During the time of Josephinism, Svete gore was almost forgotten, but interest in the place was renewed after 1860 when two priests, Jurij Stepišnik and Martin Sevnik, gave it a new look. Tomasso Fantoni painted the church between 1868 and 1871. He depicted Mary’s Assumption on the vaulted ceiling of the presbytery and scenes from Mary’s Litany on the side walls. An unknown artist painted the walls of the aisles with various prayers that were answered with the help of Mary of Svete gore.

Uploaded

September 19th, 2013