St. Lawrence’s church

Place: Požega

Photo: Destinacije.com

Description:

This is the oldest church in Požega, built at the beginning of the 14th century in the city centre. It is a one-nave gothic church with narrower and lower polygonal sanctuary. Northern nave, gothic in style as well, has been added later. The church is made of stone and its total length (nave and sanctuary) is 23,8 metres. The nave is 9 metres wide and the sanctuary is 6,90 metres wide. There is a sacristy, built in gothic style and later transformed into baroque style. The church was a single nave church originally, but after several additions were made it was transformed into two nave church.

It it still unclear who built the church. Historians are divided on this matter. One opinion is that this was church and convent of the Order of St. Clare, and the other one is that this was a Dominican (Black Friars) church. Since the church was dedicated to St. Mary, its construction is linked to Frankopan Dukes who have been Požega county prefects between 1335. and 1340. It is thought that they have dedicated this church to St. Mary of Loreto because of their traditional ties to Trsat and St. Mary of Loreto shrine that exists there. It was only after the Jesuits arriwed in Požega at the end of the 17th century that the church was named St. Lawrence’s (Laurentius), which is explained as a mistaken translation of its original name “Lauretaum”.

Apart from its gothic elements, the church has had some renaissance additions. It was rebuilt in late gothic and renaissance forms. The renaissance tabernacle is one such addition. It is very similar to the one in Pecs cathedral and it appears to have been brought to this church as a whole. The church also contains valuable 14th century gothic frescos.

After the Ottomans have left Požega, the church is rebuilt by the Jesuits between 1711. and 1725 (main and northern nave) and they have built their college building next to the church. Church belltower was rebuilt in 1755. After the Jesuits were no longer in Požega, two bells and the clock were moved to St. Theresia’s church belltower. In the rebuilt church, there was the main altar of St. Lawrence and four other altars: St. Francis Xavier, St. Joseph, Holy Cross and St. Aloysius. The church was later used by grammar school, and it was abandoned in the beginning of the 19th century to be transformed into military and trading warehouse, granary and hospital. In 1835, it is once again functioning as a church. Long term restoration and research of the church began shortly after the second world war.

Exploratory work and restoration of the church started in 1964 and did not finish until 1998. After the Požega diocese was founded in 1997, St. Lawrence's church gets a greater role. Pope John Paul II has attested St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr as a patron of Požega diocese, hence the St. Lawrence's church in Požega became an important church in the diocese, second only to the cathedral itself.