Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Berehove (Beregszász)
The Roman Catholic church of Berehove (Beregszász) is one of the oldest churches in Transcarpathia. In this church at the heart of the Hungarian community of Transcarpathia, services are still held in Hungarian.
The Gothic church was built in the early 15th century, in the reign of King Sigismund – the sources mention 1418. Between 1518 and 1522 it was rebuilt with a donation from Queen Mary, and in 1519 Pope Leo X raised the parish of Berehove to the rank of archdeaconry.
The church has had a turbulent history. In 1565 it was taken over by the Reformed, who destroyed its altars and statues. On 17 June 1657 Polish troops attacking the town set fire to the church with the townspeople who had taken refuge inside; it was later restored by Zsófia Báthory, wife of George II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania. On 8 June 1686, when the garrison of Mukachevo (Munkács) castle attacked the imperial troops quartered in the town, it burned down again.
Its complete restoration took place between 1839 and 1846 in the Romantic style: the west façade was rebuilt in neo-Gothic form and the tower was raised. On 1 November 1846 it was consecrated in honour of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Today it is a monument of national importance in Ukraine.
Pilgrimage feast: The titular feast of the church is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14 September.
Visiting: The church stands in the centre of Berehove, at Bethlen Gábor Street 2. Before travelling, check the current travel advice of your foreign ministry.
Sources: Explore Carpathia · Karpaty.rocks
Photo: Dmytro Petishkin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Town:
Berehove (Beregszász)