Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Rajecká Lesná)
The Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary ( Bazilika Narodenia Panny Márie in Slovak ) is a Roman Catholic church in Rajecká Lesná in Slovakia . The neo-Gothic church of the Diocese of Žilina is consecrated under the patronage of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and has the title of a minor basilica .
history
The cornerstone of the church was laid in May 1864. Two years later the church was consecrated on Pentecost. The Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary was transferred from the previous Romanesque- Gothic church to the new high altar. Soon the old church was demolished. In March 2002 the church of the pilgrimage site was raised to the rank of a minor basilica by John Paul II .
Near the temple, on a small hill, there is also a calvary with a fountain. Right next to the basilica itself is the largest Slovak nativity scene with national elements in a specially constructed building called the Slovak Bethlehem.
architecture
The single-nave basilica was built in the neo-Gothic style on a cross-shaped floor plan. The main nave is 28 meters long, the transept measures 20 meters. On the main altar is a 145 cm high sculpture of the Virgin Mary. It was made around 1498 by an unknown sculptor. She is flanked by two angels. In the side aisles of the church there are two neo-Gothic altars, the right side altar is dedicated to St. Joseph , the left that of Mary's mother Anna .
Web links
- Basilica website (Slovak)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Basilica narodenia Panny Preblahoslavenej Márie on gcatholic.org
- ↑ a b Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady (Slovak)
Coordinates: 49 ° 2 ′ 38 " N , 18 ° 38 ′ 7.1" E