Church of Virgin Mary's Birth: Košice's Greek Catholic cathedral
The Church of Virgin Mary's Birth (Gréckokatolícky katedrálny chrám Narodenia presvätej Bohorodičky) stands on Moyzesova Street in the historic centre of Košice, eastern Slovakia. Built in 1882–1898 in the Neo-Romanesque style, it is the cathedral of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Košice and a quiet stop for anyone exploring the city's sacred places.
For two centuries Košice's Greek Catholics prayed in other people's churches. Their own Neo-Romanesque cathedral took 16 years to build, was handed to the Orthodox under communism and returned after 1990.
The history of the Church of Virgin Mary's Birth
Greek Catholics, who follow Eastern church traditions while in communion with Rome, began to settle in Košice in the 17th century. For a long time they had no church of their own. Their services were held in the Franciscan church and, more rarely, in the church of the Premonstratensians or in St Michael Chapel. Only in 1852 did their bishop establish a chapel in the city, which gave the community a permanent place of worship for the first time.
By 1880 the congregation was able to buy land near that chapel. Between 1882 and 1898 the present church was built on it, in the Neo-Romanesque style, to a design by Viliam Kolatsek and executed by the builder Ľudovít Schmidt. The interior received its iconostasis, the screen of icons that separates the sanctuary from the nave in Eastern churches, and its pulpit in 1901. The whole project, from the first stone to the finished church, took some sixteen years.
The twentieth century brought a sharp break. In the communist era of former Czechoslovakia the Greek Catholic Church was banned, and the church in Košice was given to the Eastern Orthodox Church. After 1990, when the ban ended, the building was returned to the Greek Catholics and then restored and repaired to its present condition.
The church became a cathedral only in 1997, when the Apostolic Exarchate of Košice was created for Greek Catholics in the area. Later that exarchate was raised to an eparchy, and today the church is the cathedral of the Eparchy of Košice of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church. Its story, from borrowed chapels to a bishop's church, mirrors that of the community it serves.
Curiosities about the Greek Catholic cathedral in Košice
- Before 1852 Košice's Greek Catholics had no chapel at all and used the Franciscan church, only rarely the Premonstratensian church or St Michael Chapel.
- The cathedral took about 16 years to build, from 1882 to 1898, yet it did not become a cathedral until 1997.
- The iconostasis and the pulpit were installed three years after the building was finished, in 1901.
- Under communism the church was given to the Eastern Orthodox Church and only came back to the Greek Catholics after 1990.
- The church stands beside the first Greek Catholic chapel of 1852, on land the community bought in 1880.
- St Michael Chapel, where Greek Catholics occasionally celebrated before they had their own church, is one of the nearby places featured on this site.
Tours near Church of Virgin Mary's Birth
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting the Greek Catholic cathedral in Košice
- The cathedral stands on Moyzesova Street in the historic centre of Košice, so it is easy to combine with a walk through the old town.
- Look for the Neo-Romanesque architecture outside and for the iconostasis and pulpit of 1901 inside; the sources give no detailed description of the interior.
- Nearby places covered on this site include the Archbishop's Palace, St Michael Chapel and St Urban Tower, all next to each other, and the Plague Chapel of St Rosalie about 2 km away.
- This is a working cathedral, so dress and behave respectfully, and check the current opening hours and service times before you go.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Church of Virgin Mary's Birth is
Photos of Church of Virgin Mary's Birth
Questions
Where is the Church of Virgin Mary's Birth in Košice?
It stands on Moyzesova Street in the historic centre of Košice, in eastern Slovakia. It is the cathedral of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Košice.
When was the Greek Catholic cathedral in Košice built?
It was built between 1882 and 1898 in the Neo-Romanesque style. The iconostasis and pulpit were added in 1901.
Who designed the cathedral?
The design is credited to Viliam Kolatsek, and the construction was carried out by the builder Ľudovít Schmidt.
Why was the church given to the Orthodox Church?
In the communist era of former Czechoslovakia the Greek Catholic Church was banned, and the building was handed to the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was returned to the Greek Catholics after 1990.
Since when has the church been a cathedral?
It became a cathedral in 1997, when the Apostolic Exarchate of Košice was created. The exarchate later became the Eparchy of Košice.
What else is there to see nearby?
The Archbishop's Palace, St Michael Chapel and St Urban Tower are next to the cathedral, and the Plague Chapel of St Rosalie is about 2 km away.
Also nearby
St. Urban Tower
Košice · bell tower with a bell that survived a fire
350 m away
Archbishop's Palace, Košice
Košice · rococo palace where an emperor once lodged
350 m away
St Michael's Chapel, Košice
Košice · Gothic cemetery chapel with a medieval ossuary
400 m away
Plague Chapel of St Rosalie
Košice · octagonal Baroque chapel raised after the plague
2 km away