| St Anthony of Padua Church | |
|---|---|
Kostol svätého Antona Paduánskeho | |
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 Interactive map of the St Anthony of Padua Church area | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic,Baroque |
| Location | Old Town, Košice,Slovakia |
| Coordinates | 48°43′27″N21°15′24″E / 48.72411°N 21.25674°E /48.72411; 21.25674 |
| Year built | 1333–1405 |
| Construction started | 1718–1724 |
| Destroyed | 1556 |
St. Anthony of Padua Church or commonly known as theFranciscan Church (Slovak:Františkánsky kostol) or theSeminary Church (Slovak:Seminárny kostol) at Hlavná ulica (English:Main Street) is the second oldest church inKošice, Slovakia.[1][2]
It was built forFranciscans by thePerényi family fromPerín after a big fire in 1333. After the fire in 1556, the church was used as a military store-house. From 1596 to 1671, it was used as a cathedral for thebishop of Eger who settled here during the occupation ofEger by theOttoman Empire.[2]
When theDiocese of Košice was formed in 1804, the renovated Franciscan monastery became theSt Charles Borromeo Seminary.[3]
The monastery is now vacant and Franciscans no longer live there.[4]
The interior isbaroquized, the main altar has a valuablebaldachin structure. The statue ofSaint Charles Borromeo, a patron of theseminary, is on its cupola. Almost all the altars, thepulpit and other moveables are from years 1760–1770. Its preservedGothic elements document a plaster Gothic decoration. Thereliefs above the entrance, stone seats close to thealtar andvaults above thesanctuary and formerchancel (dedicated toSaint Nicholas) are original.[3]
The founder of the first University of Košice, the bishop of Eger,Benedikt Kisdy, was buried in thecrypt under the main altar. All the crypts were plundered by soldiers after World War II.[3]
