Reformed Church – Šamorín (Somorja)
The Reformed church of Šamorín (Somorja) is one of the oldest and most beautiful medieval churches on Rye Island (Csallóköz). The town even takes its name from it: the Latin name of the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Sancta Maria, gradually evolved into Somorja.
The church is first mentioned as “ecclesia Sancte Mariae” in a charter dated 1238, although the document's authenticity is disputed. The core of the present building dates from the third quarter of the 13th century and is late Romanesque; originally it consisted only of today's main nave and the sanctuary. Archaeological research shows that an earlier church stood on the site: the foundations of a Romanesque altar were found beneath the present sanctuary.
Over the following centuries the church was enlarged several times, gaining aisles and a tower, and it may also have served as a lookout for the town. The south aisle was built in the 14th century, and in the second half of the 15th century a late Gothic vault was raised over the nave; according to a German inscription, the figures between the vault ribs were painted in 1521. During the Reformation the building was shared by German-speaking Lutherans and Hungarian Reformed believers, and in 1789 the Reformed congregation bought it for 2,000 Rhenish gold florins.
Several layers of painted decoration from different periods cover the walls. On the triumphal arch, Old Testament prophets appear in medallions, with David and Solomon in the centre; on the north wall, scenes from the life of Mary – her death, burial, assumption and coronation – follow one another. The sanctuary holds a medieval stone tabernacle niche, above which kneels a figure that scholars believe to be the builder or patron.
A comprehensive restoration began in spring 2014, the main tasks being to dry out the walls and protect the medieval paintings. The congregation celebrated the completion of the exterior renovation with a thanksgiving service on 6 December 2015.
Visiting: the church stands in the centre of Šamorín, opposite the town's cultural centre, a short drive south-east of Bratislava. As it is used by the Reformed congregation, the interior is best visited during services or by prior arrangement.
Sources: Wikipedia · Repository of Hungarian Values in Slovakia · Építészfórum – symposium on the church · Town of Šamorín
Photo: Thaler Tamas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Thaler Tamas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Town:
Šamorín (Somorja)
