A detail of the valuable Gothic chalice found in the walls of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Trnava. (source: pamiatky.sk)
During the renovation of the external facade of the north tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Trnava, builders found a hidden Gothic chalice from the 16th century within the wall.
The church's rector believes that believers hid it in the wall from the communist regime in the early 1950s. Today, the Monuments Office wants to list it as an item of national cultural heritage.
"We presume it could have been [hidden in] the 1950s, when there was great uncertainty during the persecution of the church. Such precious monuments were hidden at that time," explained Jozef Gallovič, the rector of St. Nicholas Basilica in Trnava, as quoted by public broadcaster RTVS.
The gilded silver late Gothic chalice dates back to 1520. "Its great rarity lies in the ornamental decoration made with a very fine goldsmith's technique. It is adorned with cut stones. A beautiful iconographic feature is the [representation of] six saintly figures at the bottom," said Žofia Geričová, an expert at the Regional Monuments Board in Trnava.
After more than 70 years, the chalice is once again serving its purpose, with priests using it during masses. "We will initiate its registration as a national cultural monument," added Geričová.
It is not the first surprise discovery to have been yielded by the basilica in Trnava. A monstrance from the 18th century was previously found hidden in the casing of the organ. "It was also found by chance during organ repairs," explained Jozef Gallovič.
Church fears during communism
According to historian František Neupauer from the Nation's Memory Institute (ÚPN), experience has shown that church representatives's fear of the communist regime was justified.
"Representatives of the totalitarian regime even opened the chests and sarcophagi of monks, like those of the Franciscans in Kremnica. They were looking for anything hidden there. From this perspective, the fact that someone hid certain things meant that many of them were preserved," Neupauer explained.
The repair of the cathedral towers in Trnava continues. Monument conservators say the basilica is gradually returning to its original Gothic appearance. The rector promises that crosses will soon be placed on the tops of the towers for the first time in almost 200 years.
