Early Gothic church in Hanušovce nad Topľou is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. There is a parish seal from 1332, on which next to the text there is a depiction of the patroness of the church, parish and town.
On the basis of previous knowledge, it is assumed that the original church was the present sanctuary of the present church building - a longitudinal structure with one altar and one entrance. In the 14th century the original church was extended and a sacristy was added.
The canonical visitation of the parish from 1813 speaks about the "sad" state of the church, but also gives data about the interior of the church, mentions the main altar of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the side altars of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the altar of St. John of Nepomuk. The Visitation also mentions the paintings on the walls of the church: Transfiguration of the Lord, Virgin Mary and two paintings of St. John the Baptist.
In 1882 the roof of the church was restored, in 1895 the church tower was re-roofed, in the following years the plaster was repaired, on 7 November 1937 the church was consecrated and a new cross was subsequently installed on the tower, and in 1959 minor corrections were made to the main altar.
In July 1982 the complex restoration of the churchboth exterior and interior. The roof of the church was covered with copper sheeting and the building insulated. During 1983, the interior of the church received a new plaster and a new coat of paint. In 1984, the painting of the church was continued by the artist Adolf Cerhák from Červený Kostelec.
The last renovation of the church took place in 1997. The sanctuary was restored and the entrance to the crypt underneath it was archaeologically uncovered and subsequently closed in cooperation with the Monuments Office. In addition, the altars were reduced in size and all the murals, statues, etc. were restored.
Source : www.hanusovce.rimkat.sk
Cover photo: KOCR Northeast of Slovakia
