Votive Church, Szeged, Hungary

The Votive Church and Cathedral of Our Lady of Hungary is a twin-spired church in Szeged. It lies on Dóm square beside the Dömötör tower. Construction began in 1913, but due to the outbreak of the First World War, it was not completed until 1930. The church serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Szeged–Csanád.

It is the fourth-largest church in Hungary. The dome is 54 metres outside (33 m above the inside floor) and the towers are both 91 m high. The church contains five bells, the largest of which is the Heroes Bell which weighs 8,537 kilograms, is tuned to F0 and was made in 1927. It also contains one of the largest organs in Europe with 9740 pipes and 134 ranks. The church is located in Dóm Square Szeged, which is exactly the same size as Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy.

History

Construction of the church began in 1913 after a flood had destroyed most of Szeged. It was designed by Frederick Schulek and was completed in 1930. The construction of the church was a result of a pledge made by the inhabitants of Szeged to build a cathedral after the flood of March 1879.

The Commissioner of the King was looking for a place for the church to be built, and decided on the site of the medieval St. Demeter Church. Today all that remains of the church is the Dömötör tower (now the oldest building in Szeged). Thirty-five design plans were submitted in a competition, and in the end the plans were chosen and the foundation was laid on 21 June 1914. The construction was stopped because of World War I and was finally finished on 24 October 1930. It was blessed by various bishops and archbishops. The next day the church held its first mass.

Features

The front of the church has a Grecian cross and rose windows underneath. Below that is the 3-metre-tall statue of Madonna, the protector of Hungary since Stephen I. On each side of the statue there are paintings of the 12 Apostles. Underneath them is the main gate and the cathedral's side gates.

The church has many frescos, with the main one being 'Our Lady of Hungary' behind the main altar. It depicts Madonna wearing the Hungarian Crown; on her shoulder is St Stephen's coronation mantle, in her right hand is the mace, in her left is the orb, and in her arm is Jesus as a child.

Above the main altar is a fresco called 'Madonna in Fur of Szöged' by Ferenc Marton which depicts Madonna in a Hungarian folk dress.

The dome's fresco was painted by László Patay who later won a Munkacsy Award in 2000. The painting is centered around the procession of the Holy Ghost but also contains depictions of St. Stephen, St. Elisabeth, St. Leslie, and St. Margaret as well.

The main transept contains the Altar of St. Anthony and the Heart of Jesus. In the cathedral's left transept is the marble Altar of St. Gerard, and statues of St. Gerard and of St. Stephen. The right transept contains the Altar of the St. Cross. Between the towers and the transepts are the side-chapels, which were built in honour of St Leslie, St. Elizabeth, St. Stephen and St Margaret.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Dóm Tér 15, Szeged, Hungary

See all sites in Szeged

Details

Founded: 1913-1930
Category: Religious sites in Hungary

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Dömötör Tower (0,1 km)
Szeged Synagogue (0,7 km)

User Reviews

Babak Ghadiri (7 months ago)
This is one of the best place you can visit in Szeged . It doesn’t require to purchase the ticket and you can visit it also during the weekend. Its started in 1913 but is not completed during to World war 1 , then is completed on 1930 which is make it one of the oldest church. Its so beautiful and you have to visit it .

Tamas Molnar (9 months ago)
Wonderful building, it is pure art, magnificent. The tower is high enough to see far in the city.

Think Universal (10 months ago)
The Votive Church of Szeged, also known as Szegedi Dóm, is one of Hungary's most significant religious and architectural landmarks. Constructed between 1913 and 1930 following the great flood of 1879, it was built as a votive offering for the town's deliverance from the disaster. This magnificent structure stands as the fourth largest church in Hungary, featuring a neo-Romanesque style, complete with twin spires that reach a height of 91 meters, making it a dominant feature of the Szeged skyline. The interior is adorned with intricate frescoes, stained glass windows, and a grand organ, which is one of the largest in Europe. The church not only serves as a place of worship but also hosts various cultural events, including concerts and exhibitions, due to its excellent acoustics and spacious layout. Additionally, the Votive Church is integral to the annual Szeged Open Air Festival, further cementing its status as a cultural and spiritual hub in the region.

Eleonora barbieri (12 months ago)
One of the best churches I saw in my entire life. The paintings are just magnificent and you can see the Turkish infuence. Must to see in Hungary

Nikola Radovanović (2 years ago)
The central cathedral of Szeged, it is the heart and centre of this adorable little city, with sublime frescoes adorning its walls. You have to really see them to appreciate them. Outside this relatively new cathedral is the main city square, the focal gathering point of the city and the place where many different events are regularly held. The entrance is free and worth it, even if you're an atheist like myself.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.

Votive Church