PHOTOS: Beautiful, antique Hungarian church restored

Architect Márton Sarkadi, project manager of the Diocese of Szombathely has announced the completion of the restoration of St. George’s Church in Ják. The next potential phase involves constructing a visitor centre with plans already prepared for the project.

The architect Márton Sarkadi has announced the successful completion of the comprehensive restoration efforts for both the interior and exterior of St. George’s Chruch in Ják. With the interior renovation finalised in 2022, subsequent work was focused on the exterior, including the restoration of the iconic western gate of the Ják church, Turizmus.com reports.

Sarkadi noted additional enhancements to the churchyard such as renovated walkways and upgraded lighting. Moreover, Sarkadi highlighted the thorough restoration of the 13th-century St. James Chapel as part of the renovation project. Plans are underway for the potential construction of a visitor centre, leveraging pre-existing designs for this next phase of development.

Photo: FB / Dömötör Csaba

In preparation for the construction of a visitor centre and exhibition space connected to the church in Ják, Márton Sarkadi disclosed that the original apostles’ statues adorning the abbey church’s gate were relocated from the Savaria Museum on Friday.

While three statues will be temporarily showcased in a tourist pavilion adjacent to the church, the remaining pieces will be housed in the artefact warehouse of the Szombathely Diocese until the completion of the visitor centre. Sarkadi emphasised that this step aims to underscore the comprehensive tourist appeal of Ják, highlighting not only the Romanesque church itself but also the archaeological discoveries and artefacts showcasing its rich history and cultural significance.

Sarkadi further revealed that since 2018, the Diocese of Szombathely has received over HUF 2 billion (EUR 5 million) in government funding for the church’s restoration, with an additional HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.5 million) required for the visitor centre’s construction, which will encompass abbey buildings and a spacious exhibition area. The renovated abbey church is set to be blessed in a ceremony on the 21st of April, officiated by County Bishop János Székely.

The Church of Ják

The church of Ják stands as a remarkable testament to Romanian architecture in Hungary, representing the sole surviving example of intact medieval monasteries of its kind. Built around 1220 and consecrated in 1256 in honour of Saint George, its construction saw several alterations, evidenced by its stylistic irregularities.

Despite enduring damage from fire, storms and conflicts with the Ottoman army, the church has been meticulously restored over the centuries, with its most recent major rebuilding occurring between 1896 and 1904 under the direction of Frigyes Schulek. Notable for its inwardly recessed main entrance adorned with Norman motifs and a depiction of Jesus with angels and apostles in the tympanum, the church also features the Chapel of St. James opposite its main facade, which served as the medieval church of Ják due to ecclesiastical restrictions on the monastic church’s parish functions.

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