Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross traces its origins back to the 13th century.
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According to archaeological excavations, there was already a church on the site of the current one. The sanctuary was likely built during the time of the Mongol invasion, and its original decorations were restored during the renovation completed in 2022. The tombstone of the church's founder was also discovered in the sanctuary, but the inscriptions on it have yet to be deciphered. The church, as it can be admired today, features fresco and secco fragments that indicate the Keresztúr church is one of the most beautifully painted Gothic churches from the 15th century still preserved. The wall paintings depict Saint Nicholas, Saint Catherine, and Saint Ambrose. The sanctuary and nave of the church reached their current form by 1520, as indicated by the ANNO DOMINI 1520 inscription visible on the southern cornice. In the 15th-16th centuries, a large northern chapel also stood beside the church that still exists today. However, this was demolished relatively early, during the Reformation in the 16th century, and it is believed that the stones from this chapel were used to build the church tower, as the Gothic church likely had a separate wooden bell tower before. During the spread of the Reformation, Bodrogkeresztúr became Calvinist, and the Catholic church was taken over by the Reformed congregation, who adapted the interior to their faith: Gothic stone carvings were chiselled away, Gothic tombs visible in the sanctuary were filled in, and their closing stones were thrown into the graves. The church was whitewashed, the floor level was raised, and it was paved with stone slabs. This process was repeated after the church was re-Catholicised. In the 18th century, a new stone floor was laid, the white walls were repainted, and the Baroque gallery, still visible today, was built at the end of the century. Finally, in 1812, the current Baroque altar was constructed. In 2017, extensive archaeological excavations began on the church grounds. Frescoes painted over during the Reformation were uncovered, and researchers discovered a rare find: a stone cross believed to originate from the Holy Land was hidden in the church's walls. Additionally, the church's stone-carved baptismal font was also unearthed.
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