st Peter's and Paul's temple Church

We welcome you to the village of Jakubana, in the heart of the Prešov region, where the majestic temple of Saint Peter and Paul is now standing before you. When you look at it, you will immediately feel respect for a place dominated by the surrounding area. Together with him you see the presence of a wall that surrounds this holy area and separates it from the daily rush of the village. It is a place where faith, history and architectural ambition meet, and we now invite you to plunge with us into the story of its origin and uniqueness.

To understand why this very building is standing before you, we must return to our minds a few centuries back. This was not the first building in its kind. Already in 1772 a previous temple was established that served the local community for decades. However, time and growing needs of the community led to the need to build something bigger and more representative. That is why the foundation stone of the new temple was laid in 1904. The construction lasted several years, which shows the precision and emphasis on the detail that all involved put into the work. The highlight of this process was July 12, 1911, when the construction was finally completed and the temple was solemnly sanctified.

Now we ask you to take a moment to take a closer look at the architecture itself. Note how a building that connects several different streams of artistic expression lies before you. The construction from 1904 to 1911 is a fascinating example of the combination of historical Art Nouveau styles with Byzantine and Romanesque influences. It is a brave architectural mix that makes this temple a unique object in Jakubany. Follow the lines of the building and see how the stronger romance elements with more elegant secession curves and the monumentality of Byzantine style intersect. Although the names of particular architects remained unknown in time, their work speaks for itself and testifies to the high aesthetic taste of the time.

Now look high up. Your attention will certainly be drawn by a massive tower that reaches a height of 50 metres high above the villages. It is a real beacon of faith and a landmark for anyone who comes to James. Maybe you're wondering what's inside this tower. If you decide to ascend to its top, you will have a path along the tracks of history leading you through exactly one hundred and twenty steps. It is a challenge for every visitor, but the reward of panoramic view of Prešov region is certainly worth the effort.

Let us now move our attention to the inside of the temple and its spiritual heart. If you enter the premises of the building, you perceive the atmosphere of peace and relaxation. The key element you should not miss is the iconostasis. This important element was installed in 1934 and comes from Budapest. It is made in Russian style, which gives the interior a specific character and depth. Note the precise design and symbolism that the iconostasis brings to the space of prayer. The whole temple was renovated in 1937, which helped preserve its beauty and integrity for future generations, so today you see the structure in its full splendoriness.

However, there is one detailed attraction that is surprising to many visitors and that requires a little more attention. Notice the orientation of the temple. Traditionally, temples are oriented to the east, to the sun, which symbolizes the resurrection and a new beginning. In the case of the temple of St. Peter and Paul in James, however, it is different. The altar is oriented north. Why was that? The answer is not found in the theological disputes, but in the geography and urbanism of the village itself. Jakubans have a longitudinal character, which means that the municipality has evolved in a narrow zone. It is precisely because of this specific distribution of the village that architects had to abandon their traditional orientation and adapt the temple to local conditions. This is a fascinating example of how the practical need and terrain are also affected by sacral structures.

So you are facing a memorial that is not just a set of walls and stone, but a living witness to the changes that have gone through this region at the turn of two centuries. From the foundation stone in 1904 through the sanctification in 1911 to the addition of the Budapest iconostasis in 1934. Every detail, from the height of the tower to the unusual direction of the altar, tells its own story about the people who lived and built here.

Now we're watching you go around the whole area in peace, see the texture of the wall, and perhaps try to imagine how people felt over a hundred years ago in these areas. Go through the facade in detail, view the game of light and shadow on the Art Nouveau elements and let yourself be swallowed up by the peace of this place. Thank you for spending with us this short trip to Jakubana's history. We wish you a pleasant further stay and an inspirational journey through beautiful places of Prešov region.