Sometimes having local connections gets you into some really out-of-the-way places with astounding local treasures. I found just such a thing in July 2014 when visiting Banská Bystrica in central Slovakia. Alena, a musician whose group I used to hang out with back in the Nineties, invited me to the nearby village of Poniky, where she'd bought and restored a small property several years ago.
She'd arranged a visit to the Church of St. Francis Seraph, which dates back to 1310, and a sixty-year-old Franciscan took us inside for a rare tour.
(All images Copyright (c) 2014 by Mark Eliot Nuckols)
She'd arranged a visit to the Church of St. Francis Seraph, which dates back to 1310, and a sixty-year-old Franciscan took us inside for a rare tour.
(All images Copyright (c) 2014 by Mark Eliot Nuckols)
It's curious that the restoration of this artwork took place in the years 1971-91, mostly during the socialist era when religious objects largely went neglected. Indeed, 1971 was the beginning of the "Normalization" period that followed the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. In this particular instance, the parish priest was apparently able to make the case for the building's historical importance.
Afterwards we had supper (on the other side of Bystrica) at a traditional koliba, reminiscent of a time when herding was a widespread occupation in the Carpathians.
NEXT WEEK'S POST: Pics from a Crime & Punishment tour of St. Petersburg. Last Friday I commented on the 150th anniversary of the novel. Now I have something more to share.
Afterwards we had supper (on the other side of Bystrica) at a traditional koliba, reminiscent of a time when herding was a widespread occupation in the Carpathians.
NEXT WEEK'S POST: Pics from a Crime & Punishment tour of St. Petersburg. Last Friday I commented on the 150th anniversary of the novel. Now I have something more to share.
If you ever happen to be in the area and want to see the church, the contact info is:
Do Hája 9 00421 48 419 3263
976 33 Poniky poniky@fara.sk
Naturally, contributions will be appreciated. This info comes from the back of a church brochure, also the source of much of the captioning above.
Poniky is such a small town the name for some reason doesn't appear on this embedded Google map. But it's in the red area at center.
Do Hája 9 00421 48 419 3263
976 33 Poniky poniky@fara.sk
Naturally, contributions will be appreciated. This info comes from the back of a church brochure, also the source of much of the captioning above.
Poniky is such a small town the name for some reason doesn't appear on this embedded Google map. But it's in the red area at center.
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