The parish church of Our Lady of Assumption

Traditional legend recounts the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary at Skalca above the Idrijca river, where later the first chapel was built. The first reference to the small chirch was recorded in 12th century (the year 1156 appears the most credible data). The present parish chirch of Our Lady of Assumption, in local usage »Maria na Skalci« (Mary on the Rock), may thus pride itself on an 850-year-long history.

Originally it was a subsidiary of the ancient parish at Šentviška Gora, and later, in the 14th century, it passed under the supervision of the parish at the chirch of St. Jernej in Cerkno. In the 15th century, it became an independant parish and was as such also granted permanently appointed priests. Of exceptional significance, however, was the cultural and civilizing role that Spodnja Idrija played as an ecclesiastical centre directly linked to a chapter in Cividale. The mining town of Idrija belonged to the Spodnja Idrija Parish for over 250 years (until the year 1752); Gore nad Idrijo and Vojsko were under its supervision until the end of the 18th century; and Čekovnik and Bela belonged to the parish even up to the 20th century.

The parish church of Our Lady of Assumption rises into the air above the historic heart of the town, which has up to the present day preserved its suggestive name, “At the Village”. In recent years it has been thoroughly refurbished. The temple has an excellent position above the settlement and is, as a dominant visual element above the whole valley, visible from near and far. Over 100 years old, a remarkable stairway ascends up to the building.

The church is also linked to a system of chapels, not only to those with access paths but to others scattered throughout its vicinity. These chapels – the so-called Pokloni – used to be set up in places where pilgrims spotted Mary’s church for the first time and bowed in respect of it. The church was reconstructed and equipped in baroque style in 17th century, which is recorded by an inscription from 1674 on the belfry. The majority of valuable ancient decoration (oil paintings, sculptures, altars) was the work of local painters and carvers living during the 19th century. In 1856, the well-known Idrijan master, Jurij Tavčar, created the main altar with a rendering of Mary’s Assumption. Under the nave, there is a crypt wherein 19 priests serving in Spodnja Idrija were interred. The first-class cultural and historical treasure is also represented by illusionist frescoes, which decorate the vaults of the choir, nave, and presbytery. Idrijan cartographer, poly-technician, and painter Jožef Mrak, otherwise best known as the constructor of “klavže” (river barriers) on the Idrijca and Belca rivers, made the frescoes in a grandiose manner during the years between 1762 and 1766. The paintings depict Mary’s ancestors, life, and glorification. There message is emphasises by selected Biblical quotations in Latin.

[ Back ]

NEWS

MAILINGLIST