Restoration of

Nitra’s Calvary

Intro

We would like to introduce you to our project- “Obnova Kalvárie”- the Renewal of Nitra’s Calvary, and ask for your help in achieving it.

Nitra is a city in the southwestern part of Slovakia. It is often called the “Mother of Slovak Towns” and has a long and rich religious history. The first Christian church in this territory was built here in the year 828, and in 863 Sts. Cyril and Methodius came to Nitra, which at that time was the center of the Great Moravian Empire. They developed an alphabet for the Slavic people- the basis of their written language- and translated the Bible and liturgical texts, which enabled the spread of the Catholic faith. In 880, Nitra was made the seat of a diocese- the oldest in Central Europe. The history of Calvary- which you can read about in the project presentation- dates from the Middle Ages.

But the story of Nitra has a dark side, and that is the forty year period of Communism- from 1948 until the Revolution in 1989. Communism had a negative effect on the practice of religion and the upkeep of church property. Much of it was seized by the state, including the area of Calvary. While the church was allowed to offer services in a limited and controlled way and the Stations of the Cross- the dominant feature of the Calvary hill- were not destroyed, the upkeep of the area was neglected, which means that it gradually began to fall into a devastated condition. The area has been maintained since then and some of the more serious damage repaired, but the financial situation of the Calvary Parish has not allowed major restoration and renewal work to be done.

And that is the goal of our project- to restore Nitra’s Calvary to its original beauty so it can be a place which brings joy, peace and a sense of the presence of God to all the people who visit it. We hope that you will read about it and be inspired to contribute in some way to help make it a reality.

Nitra’s Calvary

The Calvary, which is situated on one of the town‘s seven hills, is among the most popular places in Nitra for visitors. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built at the foot of the hill in the late 15th century. It became the target of several attacks by Protestant armies in the 16th and 17th centuries, but the church was always able to be repaired thanks to the unwavering dedication and generosity of the faithful. It was a place of miraculous healings, as evidenced by numerous votive gifts. Stations of the Cross dating from the years 1673 – 1681 were the first to adorn the Marian hill. These original seven stations (of the Cross) were among the oldest in Slovakia. The stations were replaced in 1885 and today these are registered as part of Slovakia’s cultural heritage. The Calvary complex gradually expanded to include the church crypt’s underground spaces, the Lourdes Cave, several sacral and secular buildings, and the Missionary House of the Society of the Divine Word with its museum of nations and cultures. The Calvary in Nitra has been the site of annual pilgrimages of thanksgiving to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary since 1766. Today it is visited each year by thousands of pilgrims as well as by tourists, runners, families and visitors from near and far. While it is a popular place for relaxation, sports, tourism and culture, for people of faith Nitra’s Calvary is above all a place to meet with God.

Project Goal

The goal of the Calvary restoration project is to reconstruct the chapels and the church, and to enhance the Calvary area in several stages. It is obvious to every visitor that the place needs urgent first aid as well as essential basic maintenance. Currently the chapels, which are designated as a national cultural monument and are a part of not only the country‘s cultural heritage but also of Nitra’s religious heritage, are in critical condition.

Gallery

The gallery presents a view of the current condition of the chapels.

Forms of Help

The success of the restoration of Calvary will depend on obtaining the necessary financial resources. Its repair of will be made possible mainly through the support of private companies and individual donors. Thanks to your donations, we can ensure the chapels’ regular maintenance as well as that of the entire complex and keep Calvary beautiful for future generations.

We are grateful for your willingness to help us.

Financial Support

You can support the restoration of Calvary financially through a deposit to our bank account, or you can go to ONLINE DONATION PAGE to help fund the repairs.

Promotional Items

Contribute by purchasing gift items which have been issued in a limited edition to support the restoration project. You can bring pleasure to others by giving them as small gifts in an attractive ecological canvas bag..

Chapel Adoption

Do any of the stations I-XI and XIII have a special meaning for you?

Help us share the idea of our restoration plan on social networks. You can inform others about our unique project through Facebook and Instagram.

Stages of the restoration of Calvary

We want to restore the Calvary in 4 stages. These involve preserving and repairing the chapels of the Stations of the Cross as well as the other chapels in the area, restoring the sculptures in each, reconstructing the chapel of the Holy Sepulcher and restoring its original design and ornamentation, lighting the Calvary hill, makin necessary repairs to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and creating a new place for prayer which will be dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our goal is to restore the beauty and dignity of the Calvary in Nitra which is a dominant landmark of both the city of Nitra and the Nitra region.

Promo video

Watch the promo video which shows the beauty of the Calvary complex.

The Stations of the Cross

A Bit of History

The Marian hill was named for the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary which is located at its foot.The first historical information about the church is from the 15th century.
The tradition of pilgrimages in honor of Nitra’s Mother of God began in 1747.
The complex of today’s Calvary in Nitra has been in development since the 17th century. The original stations of the Cross date from 1673 – 1681. Following the Jesuit model, there were only seven stations – brick columns with paintings on metal plates. This original Way of the Cross was one of the oldest in Slovakia. The stations were replaced in 1885 by chapels with sculptures depicting the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His death and burial.
At the top of the hill a hexagonal chapel, the 14th station of the Way of the Cross, was built to house Jesus’s tomb- the Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher.
Stone crosses for the 12th station were built in 1911, and the sculptures of the two thieves are original. However, the figure of the Crucified Christ was replaced over time by one made of metal casting.

Objects

The complex of buildings of Nitra‘s Calvary currently includes:

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The Chapel of the Crucifixion with side statues of Our Lady and St. John
The Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher (Jesus’s tomb), an early Baroque building which incorporates elements from later development.
The Chapels of St. Anne and the Holy Trinity which are Baroque buildings from the second half of the 18th century, the exteriors of which were modified in 1885 in the neo-Romanesque style
The stations of the Way of the Cross. I. – XII. and XIII. which have their design from the time of their creation in 1885, also in the neo-Romanesque style.
The scene of the crucifixion, with stone crosses and statues.

Architectural-Historical Research

Architectural-historical research on the chapels of the Stations of the Cross was carried out in 2016. However, the revitalization, reconstruction, and restoration work did not begin then, mainly due to the parish’s financial inability to implement the project. Over the next four years, there has been further significant damage to the chapels.

Technical Condition of the Chapels

Chapels I.-XI., XIII.

The chapels’ roofing is broken in some places due to vandalism, and vegetation has taken root.The roofing is past the end of its service life. The surfaces of the chapels‘ roofs have begun to crumble, and pieces of the roofing are cracked. The plaster on the chapels has fallen in several places and there is damage in the plinth parts due to moisture.
It is necessary to carry out research on the sculptures depicting scenes from the Way of the Cross of our Savior and then work on their restoration.
The iron bars of the gates of each chapel require artistic renewal.

Chapels of St. Anne and the Holy Trinity (located on the meadow opposite the outdoor altar)

It will be necessary to carry out architectural and historical research on these chapels and then complete reconstructionof them.

Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher (at the top of the Calvary hill)

The roof covering and a lightning rod were replaced on the Holy Sepulcher Chapel in 2019. The truss had rotted due to prolonged leakage through the shingled roof and had to be removed. This truss must be replaced in the near future.
Exterior and interior surface coatings and plasters are in unsatisfactory condition and require renewal. It is necessary to restore wall paintings, historical plaster, and masonry in the Holy Sepulcher chapel.
Window panels still fulfill their function despite clogging of window sills in the space between the protective mesh and the window. However the surfaces of the windows are weather damaged from the exterior side and require priority restoration work.
Although the door opening is secured with a metal door and grill, the door itself is broken. Without the suspended grill, it would not fulfill its function. However, its closing mechanism is partially non-functional.

Chapel of the Crucifixion with side statues of the Virgin Mary and St. John (located outside the church) and the Scene of the Crucifixion (three crosses near the top of Calvary)

These structures are in relatively good condition thanks to the recent reconstruction and restoration work.