Chyžné, Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

One of the most charming medieval churches in Gemer attracts from afar with its high eastern brick gable and massive enclosure wall with roofed gates. The original church from the 2nd half of the 13th century consisted of one nave with a square presbytery and an attached sacristy (a side room for the priests). Later, a separate bell tower, a wooden folk log building from the 18th century and a ground-floor building of the former church school built into the stone enclosure were added.

Wall paintings dating from the 1370s-80s cover the outer walls and the vault of the presbytery, including the inner wall of the triumphal arch.

A unique part of the interior of the church is a rare Late Gothic winged altar from 1508 with a central sculpture of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary and painted double-sided wings from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča.

Draw your attention to these wall paintings

The vault of the presbytery with symbols of the Evangelists, Church Fathers and angels

The wall paintings on the vault of the presbytery were probably painted in the 1370s-80s.

On the four parts of the cross vault of the presbytery there are paintings with figures of the Church Fathers with books, symbols of the Evangelists and four figures of angels. In the eastern field of the vault there is a lion - the symbol of St. Mark the Evangelist next to St. Ambrose, in the northern field there is an ox - the symbol of St. Luke the Evangelist next to Pope St. Gregory, in the southern field there is an angel - the symbol of St. Matthew the Evangelist next to St. Augustine, and in the western field there is an eagle - the symbol of St. John the Evangelist next to St. Hieronymus the Cardinal. This way of depiction came to Gemer from Italy, where its origin is associated with the bull of Boniface VIII of 1298, which pointed to the respect for the Church Fathers.

The decoration of the vault is complemented by elaborate ornaments with floral motifs and the heads of young men, perhaps angels, on the ribs of the vault.

Wise and foolish virgins

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins covers the triumphal arch on the west wall of the church presbytery. At Christ's right hand are the five wise virgins with burning lamps filled with oil; at Christ's left are the foolish virgins with lamps without oil. A half-figure of Christ in a mandorla with upraised hands turns towards the foolish virgins. The varied dress of the individual virgins is interesting.

Christ the Sufferer and the figures of the disciples beside him

The image of Christ the Sufferer covers the space above the Early Gothic stone portal leading to the sacristy on the north wall of the presbytery. It is in a square frame and Christ is depicted in an erect position in a sarcophagus with his arms crossed on his chest, his body covered with many wounds. To the left and right of the image of Christ the Sufferer are frescoes depicting the disciples.