st Church

Welcome to the village Trnava near Laborec, in the heart of Košice region. Right now, you are standing in front of the temple of the Holy Spirit, which dominates the local image and bears the traces of several centuries of prayer and history. When you look at it, you will see a structure that combines Baroque origin with later adjustments that were intended to adapt the temple to the needs of the growing community. Feel the atmosphere of this place where peace of the countryside with the dignity of the historical monument. Let's take a look at how this temple was created. Basic construction works at this Baroque church took place in 1713. During this period, it was important to build a spiritual center in the region to serve the local people. Although the names of the specific architects who designed the project remained unknown in time, their work survived for centuries and still testifies to the tastes and craft skills of that time. The church is not only an ordinary building, but it is listed in the Central List of the Monument Fund of the Slovak Republic, which confirms its high historical and cultural value for the entire state. While you slowly move on to the details, note the overall composition of the building. The history of this temple is not static because the building has undergone some significant changes. The first one occurred between 1870 and 1872, when the church was repaired to preserve its functionality and aesthetics. However, if you look at the tower and the back of the temple, you will see the result of the 1956 changes. It was this year that the tower was enlarged, giving it greater power, and the temple was extended to the sanctuary. These adjustments from the mid-20th century significantly changed the original silhouette of the building so that it could receive more believers in the interior and provide enough space for liturgical ceremonies. Now I invite you to see the details that are hidden in the interior. If you look up above your heads, watch the church ship. There is a rolling vault, which is a typical element of its time. Within this vault you can discover baroque stucco cut frame with flower. It is a gentle but charming detail that gives space lightness and shows that Baroque aesthetics are not only tied to large areas, but also to precise ornaments. Continue to see the center of the spiritual life of this temple. The main altar, which dates back to 1872, is the key point of the interior. It contains the image of Devotion, which is the center of attention of all those coming. It is fascinating to imagine that this altar bears witness to the vortex of generations of people who have attended church services in the last 150 years. While you stop in this space, take note of the sanctuary. This part of the temple underwent a very extensive reconstruction in the years 2006 to 2007. During these works, new wall icons were painted, which provide new spiritual energy and visual depth to the sanctuary. The top of this reconstruction is a new iconostasis that separates the room of believers from the holy part of the temple. This element is key to the Orthodox and Greek Catholic tradition and in this church represents the combination of traditional iconography with modern care of the monument. You may wonder if there are any big secrets or familiar personalities associated with this place. Although historical records do not describe the names of known builders or known personalities who would leave their signature here, the church's secret is linked by the anonymity. It is the temple of the people, a building that grew and changed along with the needs of the inhabitants of Trnava near Laborec. The fact that the building survived the changes of centuries, wars, and political upheavals, and that it was enlarged in 1956 at the time of social change, speaks of the strong ties of the inhabitants to their spiritual home. It is this dynamic of construction that is interesting. It is rare to see layers in one building from 1713, 1872, 1956 and 2007. Each of these data represents a different era, a different approach to art and a different need for society. Now that you look around you, you see not only walls and vaults, but you see a living organism that is constantly being restored to serve the next generations. Dear Visitor, the St. Ghost's Temple in Trnava near Laborec is an example of how the historical monument fund can be harmoniously linked to the current needs of the community. From the Baroque stucco on the vault to the modern iconostasis in the sanctuary, each detail tells its story of endurance and devotion. Before we say goodbye, I suggest you for a little while more quietly perceive the majesty of this building. You can try to find all the mentioned details on the vault or focus on the colors of new wall icons. Let yourself be guided by the feeling of peace that this temple has seen for more than 300 years. Thank you for your attention and for devoting time to this historical monument. We wish you a pleasant continuation in your journey to the Košice region and hope that your visit to this Baroque temple has enriched you with new perceptions. Goodbye.