St. Elisabeth Cathedral
St. Elisabeth Cathedral
Original church
The oldest Košice church originated probably in the middle of the 11thcentrury and was sacred to St. Michael. It was built in Romanesque style at the same place as the current church. The reference of the church is mentioned in the oldest written remark of the town dated in 1230. After German colonizers settlement in Košice in the forties of 13th century, when St. Elizabeth has become a town patron, there was also change of the origin church patron to Saint Elizabeth. After this change the church started to be adjusted in the Gothic Style in the middle of the 13th century. The church retained the Romanesque tower, but it also got a Gothic vault and an ending of a temple. The temple oriented to the East was 11,5 x 10,25 m and its main aisle was 27,8 x 14m. The whole space was 520 m2. This parish church had burned around 1380, but it was adjusted and kept in service until the construction of the current cathedral. A several Romanesque artifacts such as Iva statuette, a bronze baptistery and the several gravesstones retained up to this day.
First construction stage – end of 14th century until 1420
The fire which destroyed St. Elizabeth church in 1380 was the good opportunity for the construction of a new church.The rich citizens financed the construction of a cathedral with an active support of monarch Sigismund Lucemburgh. He devoted a considerable amount of money for the construction. Building of a church was also supported by Pope curia. In 1402 Pope Bonifac IX. issued The Indulgenced Bull. All the pilgrims who contributed to Košice ´s church had their sins forgiven. We do not know the exact date of a new church construction, but it is supposed to be between 1380 (fire of old church) and 1402 when there was a first written remark.The first stage of construction works lasted probably in 1420. In this period the church was built as a five naves basilica. The construction was done in a way that new cathedral was impounded around the original object. The south polygonal chevet of aisles were built as first ones. This was followed by the south enclosure wall construction,the south portal and the west wall where first two levels of both towers were composed to floor plan of church. A very advanced construction margin having relation to Silesian Gothic and which took part in the Franciscan church construction in the north part of town was working at building of a new church. There exists reference from 1411 about director Mikulas and about Sigismund´s master builder Peter from Budin.
Second construction stage – 1420 – 1440
A discontinuous innovation in a cathedral conception was brought by new construction masonry in 1420. Because of a lack of written reference the direct architekt of construction masonry stays anonymous. Ambition of uprightness, lite materials and spaciousness of church resulted in construction of the three aisle´s cathedral, whereby essential change of plan was added by the counter aisles to the main nave. This was situated unconventionally to the middle of the main nave length by which a unique central hall space was created. The statue portal decoration of main nave and a side aisle were inspired by Gothic buildings in Prague and Kraków is included in the second construction stage. Influence of Parleř masonry performing at Prague´s Saint Vitus Cathedral in the second half of the 14th century became evident at creating an King´s oratory and its spiral staircase as well as a motive of round banisters of oratory and a stone gallery over sacristy. Then building of the cathedral continued with the north external wall construction, the polygonal chevet of the north aisle (parallels of south apsids) and eight - sides top levels of The Sigimund tower. At the end of the second construction stage the cathedral was ready for vaulting and it was necessary to pull down the old church. St Michael´s church (today called chapel) which was built in the same time as the new church, but it was finished in 1400, and it took over temporal function as a parish church.
The third construction stage – 1440 -1462
After the pulling down of the old church of St Elizabeth, the church was vaulted by stellar vault. The particular symmetric shapes of the vault bays were different from each other and they did not folded from one bay to the other. The youngest part of the construction – sacristy and temple belong to this third construction stage.The Sigimund's tower was finished and a new town erb granted by Ladislaus the Posthumous was sculpted at the fifth floor of tower in 1453 . The year 1462 which is sculpted over the entrance portal to the tower is the year when the work on tower was finished.
The forth construction stage – 1462 – 1490
After finishing of The sigimund tower all the attention was given to the building of the south tower, which was named after that time monarch and contributor to the building of tower -Matthias Corvinus. This tower was built in a more decorated and vertical style than the north tower of the cathedral, because the construction masonry has changed. At the same time the south shield and portal were finished and there are many elements that reminds Matthias donation generosity. During the period between 1464 until 1490 Master Stephan Lapicidus or Master Steffen Staimecz from Košice as he was mentioned in the documents, was working at the cathedral construction.[10] Master Stephan has built side aisles of the cathedral, that were not included in an origin floor plan. It was financed by rich city-dweller families. The Saint Cross chapel was built by senator August Cromer in 1475. The Saint Maria chapel was built by Satmary Rod in 1477 and by the end of the same century The Saint Joseph chapel (not existing anymore) was built at the north side of the cathedral.An Inside equipment from this period is a work of Master Stephan – stone pastophorium and probably relief of St Elizabeth at the sacristy wall. At that time the church was furnished by rich Gothic mobiliari, from which not too much was kept until today. But the main altar of St Elizabeth from the years of 1474-1477 from the unknown artist is conserved.
Final construction stage – 1491 – 1508
After Matthias Corvinus death started the contest of the throne in Hungary. At that time Polish-Latvia regent John I Albert mobbed Košice city. It was for the first time when Košice were shotted by cannons. The church was heavily damaged. Mikuláš Krumpholz from Nis was charged with its reconstruction. Master builder Vaclav from Prague assisted him with the reconstruction. According to the retained writing at cordon of the west facade the reconstruction was done between 1496 – 1498. During the years 1496 – 1497 The Sigimund tower, timber of roof and singboard were fixed. The tower also got clock. In 1508 the presbytery was finished under their guidance. This year is considered as the year when the cathedral constraction was finished. This fact is documented by the scroll of parchment with the particular year and the name of Master builder Krumholz which was found in the presbytery pillar after the big reconstruction of the church in 1908.
Reformation period
In 1556 Košice were affected by a huge fire which damaged the cathedral as well. The church roof, timber of roof and a big part of interior were burnt. All the necessary repairs were done by Master builder Stanislaus from Kraków, builder masters Johnn and Gebriel and stone master Matyas.
After this year the church was administered by Protestants. They owned the church until 1604 when it was violently garrisoned by Catholics and Eger´s chapter house. This incident became one of the main reason of anti – Habsburg revolt of Stephen Bocskai who devoted the church to Calvins. The church was returned to Eger´s chapter house in 1671 by Leopold I emperor ´s decision. During this time a necessary repairs were done and a chapter house treasure was placed in the church. In the period of Imre Thököly's revolt in 1682 – 1685 the church was again owned by Protestants. In 1685 the church was definitely and permanently owned by Catholics.
Baroque period
In 1706 the church was demaged during the Francis II Rákóczi occupation. The most damaged part was the west and the south side of the church. During the 18th century several parts of the church were fixed and embellished. In the second half of the 18thcentury the church already had 14 altars (with comparison with 10 that are today). Baroque – Rococo helmit with sighseeing view obtained The SIgimund ´s tower after the fire in 1775.
Fabry's reconstruction in 1858–1863
After several years of religion wars and negleted maintenance it was necessary to innovate the cathedral in the beginning of the 19th century. There was an earthquaqe in 1834 and in 1845 the town was flooded and the flood extended to the cathedral where several parts of the ground pavement were damaged. During the 19th century there was an initiative for the cathedral reconstruction in Neogothic style, which was organised by Bishop Ignac Fabry and Imrich Henszimann Fine Arts establisher and monuments inovator in Hungary.
In 1857 St. Elizabeth Cathedral Alliance was establish by the members who devoted to the cathedral repairs which took place during 1856 – 1863 under the control of Emperior-Royal Central Commission of Preservation and Repair of Architectural Monuments and as well as under the assistance of Henszlmann. Works were masterminded by builders masters Karol Gerster and Ladislav Frey. The Fabry's reconstruction affeted change of several portal's statues, clapboards to ceramic roof-tiles, stock of new window – panes, repair of the south hall and Romantique interior paiting. But on the other hand very important static violation of the church which was evident at that time was not removed and repaired. Some of the pillars were off center their central line. Their bases were standing on a colour blade layer which was soaked by ground water. Arch ruptures were covered by mortar or were covered by wood. Such an unprofessional practise led to the desctruction and state of disrepair after the big windstorm in 1875.
Big reconstruction in 1877 – 1896
In 1872 was established Hungarian Temporary Monuments Commission, where Imrich Henszlmann was the commission secretary. The Big reconstruction was realized between 1877 – 1896 and was the main priority of the Monuments Commission and was financed mostly from the state budget of Hungarian government. Imrich Steindl, a professor of Medieval Architecture of Budapest Technical University and the most famous architect of Hungarian Neo-Gothic, was named as the main architect of the reconstruction works. Based on the ruptures in arches he decided that pillars´ allocation in aisle is the main reason of state of a disrepair of the cathedral statics. He worked out a completely new purist projection of cathedral's reconstruction where the three aisle cathedral was re-built to five aisle cathedral and adding arches in side aisles. Originally medieval star arches at the main as well as the side aisles were rebuilt to network ones. An old choir was removed and on its place Steindl builded expanded replica with more pillars. The next works involved exterior – adjusting of the external walls and gavels, supporting the pillars, the water-shoots and window´s carved works, the portals decoration and the change of Matthias tower roof. A Late Gothic chapel of St Joseph at the north part of the cathedral was completely removed. A Neo-Gothic tower which was crossing the main and the side aisles, flèche was created. Primary Steindl´s plan was to rebuilt all Neo-Gothic additional building and components in the cathedral. But those suggestions were declined by commistion and which requested for cheaper Exchange of old stone parts for the new ones. Re-Gothic (re-gothisation) of towers was not realized due to lack of money. This fact reflected in a cheaper construction material. During the Exchange of a base system in 1878 – 1882 cheap but low-quality sandstone from close stone-pit Spiššké Vlachy was used.[12] Its quick dilapidate outer surface resulted in removing of pinnacles and gargoyles because it endangered pedestrians. With the next reconstruction after 1882 good quality sandstone from Banská Bystrica was used.[11] The main Master builded of the big reconstruction in 1877 – 1880 was Josepf Weber. In 1880 – 1896 Friedrich Wilhelm Fröde from Wien was the main master builder. Supervision was done by Austrian architect Friedrich von Schmidt. After what a famous architect, Schmidt´ s student, Imrich Steindl has started to work on Budapest parliament (in 1885), Otto Sztehló beceme his successor. This architect used preservative method at The Matthias tower in contrast with previous purist method of his forerunners.The Sigimund Tower,The Matthias tower (except of roof),the inner side of exterior walls, the Medieval portals with reliefs,the stone inventory of interior and the whole temple (just intrior part) were kept from Neo-Gothic reconstruction. In 1896 was newly delivered Neo-Gothic interior equipment (altars, statues, pictures), which was bought and donated for Košice ´s Catherdral by Hungarian clergy, Košice Bishop and maecenas Zigmund Bubics. In 1906 a cathedral crypt was built under the north side aisle according to project of Frigyes Schulek. This crypt was prepared for imposing relics of Francis II Rákóczi and his companions from Turkey.
Big reconstruction 1978 until today
In 1970 area of St. Elizabeth Cathedral was declared as National Cultural Monument. All the profiled architectonic shaped (pinnacles, gargoyles, gadroon) were destroyed either by the rain water or were unmounted.Also the stone decoration at the north portal was very much defected by weathering.The cathedral reconstruction started again in September 1978 by detailed architectonic documentation. After a short break, works started again in 1984. In the meantime authorities started with the complex solution of Košice centrum monuments innovation, which was in 1983 declared as the biggest town monuments reservation in Slovakia. One of the factor that contributed to higher care of church was excluding motor-vehicle traffic from the main street in 1984 and a tram traffic in 1986.[13] During the reconstruction it was decided to use method of a maintain stage from the big reconstruction from the end of the 19th century.First the roof of the main and side aisled was repaired where were changed the ceramics coloured enamelled tiles but with origin patern from the 19th century.[14] The Flèche was reconstructed and it was necessary to add 264 pieces of plumber decorations. In 1980 – 1992 the most damaged part of temple and sacristy were reconstructed. The works were done by Polish company Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytkow from Vratislaw. It was necessary to construct the new crown gardoons, gargoyles and pinnacles – according to the accessible documents and projects from the town´s archival collection. Similarly the staircase towers were done. At gargoyles reconstruction it was done according to origin Medieval paterns which are retained in the museums. This reconstruction included also the interior repair of a temple . In 1992 – 1995 the south facade (cleaning and preservation), including window-pane was done. The Sigimund´s tower was under consistent innovation in 1995 – 1997 when a Rococo copper helmit was replaced. Cleaned and gilded plumber decorations are originals from 1775. In 2008 reconstruction of Rakoczy crypt was finished and in 2009 reconstruction of the most precious north portal was finished.[15] Today there are works at exterior of the north facade of the church and the west portal and interior of the crossed north aisle.The Matthias tower is waiting for the reconstruction.
The oldest Košice church originated probably in the middle of the 11thcentrury and was sacred to St. Michael. It was built in Romanesque style at the same place as the current church. The reference of the church is mentioned in the oldest written remark of the town dated in 1230. After German colonizers settlement in Košice in the forties of 13th century, when St. Elizabeth has become a town patron, there was also change of the origin church patron to Saint Elizabeth. After this change the church started to be adjusted in the Gothic Style in the middle of the 13th century. The church retained the Romanesque tower, but it also got a Gothic vault and an ending of a temple. The temple oriented to the East was 11,5 x 10,25 m and its main aisle was 27,8 x 14m. The whole space was 520 m2. This parish church had burned around 1380, but it was adjusted and kept in service until the construction of the current cathedral. A several Romanesque artifacts such as Iva statuette, a bronze baptistery and the several gravesstones retained up to this day.
First construction stage – end of 14th century until 1420
The fire which destroyed St. Elizabeth church in 1380 was the good opportunity for the construction of a new church.The rich citizens financed the construction of a cathedral with an active support of monarch Sigismund Lucemburgh. He devoted a considerable amount of money for the construction. Building of a church was also supported by Pope curia. In 1402 Pope Bonifac IX. issued The Indulgenced Bull. All the pilgrims who contributed to Košice ´s church had their sins forgiven. We do not know the exact date of a new church construction, but it is supposed to be between 1380 (fire of old church) and 1402 when there was a first written remark.The first stage of construction works lasted probably in 1420. In this period the church was built as a five naves basilica. The construction was done in a way that new cathedral was impounded around the original object. The south polygonal chevet of aisles were built as first ones. This was followed by the south enclosure wall construction,the south portal and the west wall where first two levels of both towers were composed to floor plan of church. A very advanced construction margin having relation to Silesian Gothic and which took part in the Franciscan church construction in the north part of town was working at building of a new church. There exists reference from 1411 about director Mikulas and about Sigismund´s master builder Peter from Budin.
Second construction stage – 1420 – 1440
A discontinuous innovation in a cathedral conception was brought by new construction masonry in 1420. Because of a lack of written reference the direct architekt of construction masonry stays anonymous. Ambition of uprightness, lite materials and spaciousness of church resulted in construction of the three aisle´s cathedral, whereby essential change of plan was added by the counter aisles to the main nave. This was situated unconventionally to the middle of the main nave length by which a unique central hall space was created. The statue portal decoration of main nave and a side aisle were inspired by Gothic buildings in Prague and Kraków is included in the second construction stage. Influence of Parleř masonry performing at Prague´s Saint Vitus Cathedral in the second half of the 14th century became evident at creating an King´s oratory and its spiral staircase as well as a motive of round banisters of oratory and a stone gallery over sacristy. Then building of the cathedral continued with the north external wall construction, the polygonal chevet of the north aisle (parallels of south apsids) and eight - sides top levels of The Sigimund tower. At the end of the second construction stage the cathedral was ready for vaulting and it was necessary to pull down the old church. St Michael´s church (today called chapel) which was built in the same time as the new church, but it was finished in 1400, and it took over temporal function as a parish church.
The third construction stage – 1440 -1462
After the pulling down of the old church of St Elizabeth, the church was vaulted by stellar vault. The particular symmetric shapes of the vault bays were different from each other and they did not folded from one bay to the other. The youngest part of the construction – sacristy and temple belong to this third construction stage.The Sigimund's tower was finished and a new town erb granted by Ladislaus the Posthumous was sculpted at the fifth floor of tower in 1453 . The year 1462 which is sculpted over the entrance portal to the tower is the year when the work on tower was finished.
The forth construction stage – 1462 – 1490
After finishing of The sigimund tower all the attention was given to the building of the south tower, which was named after that time monarch and contributor to the building of tower -Matthias Corvinus. This tower was built in a more decorated and vertical style than the north tower of the cathedral, because the construction masonry has changed. At the same time the south shield and portal were finished and there are many elements that reminds Matthias donation generosity. During the period between 1464 until 1490 Master Stephan Lapicidus or Master Steffen Staimecz from Košice as he was mentioned in the documents, was working at the cathedral construction.[10] Master Stephan has built side aisles of the cathedral, that were not included in an origin floor plan. It was financed by rich city-dweller families. The Saint Cross chapel was built by senator August Cromer in 1475. The Saint Maria chapel was built by Satmary Rod in 1477 and by the end of the same century The Saint Joseph chapel (not existing anymore) was built at the north side of the cathedral.An Inside equipment from this period is a work of Master Stephan – stone pastophorium and probably relief of St Elizabeth at the sacristy wall. At that time the church was furnished by rich Gothic mobiliari, from which not too much was kept until today. But the main altar of St Elizabeth from the years of 1474-1477 from the unknown artist is conserved.
Final construction stage – 1491 – 1508
After Matthias Corvinus death started the contest of the throne in Hungary. At that time Polish-Latvia regent John I Albert mobbed Košice city. It was for the first time when Košice were shotted by cannons. The church was heavily damaged. Mikuláš Krumpholz from Nis was charged with its reconstruction. Master builder Vaclav from Prague assisted him with the reconstruction. According to the retained writing at cordon of the west facade the reconstruction was done between 1496 – 1498. During the years 1496 – 1497 The Sigimund tower, timber of roof and singboard were fixed. The tower also got clock. In 1508 the presbytery was finished under their guidance. This year is considered as the year when the cathedral constraction was finished. This fact is documented by the scroll of parchment with the particular year and the name of Master builder Krumholz which was found in the presbytery pillar after the big reconstruction of the church in 1908.
Reformation period
In 1556 Košice were affected by a huge fire which damaged the cathedral as well. The church roof, timber of roof and a big part of interior were burnt. All the necessary repairs were done by Master builder Stanislaus from Kraków, builder masters Johnn and Gebriel and stone master Matyas.
After this year the church was administered by Protestants. They owned the church until 1604 when it was violently garrisoned by Catholics and Eger´s chapter house. This incident became one of the main reason of anti – Habsburg revolt of Stephen Bocskai who devoted the church to Calvins. The church was returned to Eger´s chapter house in 1671 by Leopold I emperor ´s decision. During this time a necessary repairs were done and a chapter house treasure was placed in the church. In the period of Imre Thököly's revolt in 1682 – 1685 the church was again owned by Protestants. In 1685 the church was definitely and permanently owned by Catholics.
Baroque period
In 1706 the church was demaged during the Francis II Rákóczi occupation. The most damaged part was the west and the south side of the church. During the 18th century several parts of the church were fixed and embellished. In the second half of the 18thcentury the church already had 14 altars (with comparison with 10 that are today). Baroque – Rococo helmit with sighseeing view obtained The SIgimund ´s tower after the fire in 1775.
Fabry's reconstruction in 1858–1863
After several years of religion wars and negleted maintenance it was necessary to innovate the cathedral in the beginning of the 19th century. There was an earthquaqe in 1834 and in 1845 the town was flooded and the flood extended to the cathedral where several parts of the ground pavement were damaged. During the 19th century there was an initiative for the cathedral reconstruction in Neogothic style, which was organised by Bishop Ignac Fabry and Imrich Henszimann Fine Arts establisher and monuments inovator in Hungary.
In 1857 St. Elizabeth Cathedral Alliance was establish by the members who devoted to the cathedral repairs which took place during 1856 – 1863 under the control of Emperior-Royal Central Commission of Preservation and Repair of Architectural Monuments and as well as under the assistance of Henszlmann. Works were masterminded by builders masters Karol Gerster and Ladislav Frey. The Fabry's reconstruction affeted change of several portal's statues, clapboards to ceramic roof-tiles, stock of new window – panes, repair of the south hall and Romantique interior paiting. But on the other hand very important static violation of the church which was evident at that time was not removed and repaired. Some of the pillars were off center their central line. Their bases were standing on a colour blade layer which was soaked by ground water. Arch ruptures were covered by mortar or were covered by wood. Such an unprofessional practise led to the desctruction and state of disrepair after the big windstorm in 1875.
Big reconstruction in 1877 – 1896
In 1872 was established Hungarian Temporary Monuments Commission, where Imrich Henszlmann was the commission secretary. The Big reconstruction was realized between 1877 – 1896 and was the main priority of the Monuments Commission and was financed mostly from the state budget of Hungarian government. Imrich Steindl, a professor of Medieval Architecture of Budapest Technical University and the most famous architect of Hungarian Neo-Gothic, was named as the main architect of the reconstruction works. Based on the ruptures in arches he decided that pillars´ allocation in aisle is the main reason of state of a disrepair of the cathedral statics. He worked out a completely new purist projection of cathedral's reconstruction where the three aisle cathedral was re-built to five aisle cathedral and adding arches in side aisles. Originally medieval star arches at the main as well as the side aisles were rebuilt to network ones. An old choir was removed and on its place Steindl builded expanded replica with more pillars. The next works involved exterior – adjusting of the external walls and gavels, supporting the pillars, the water-shoots and window´s carved works, the portals decoration and the change of Matthias tower roof. A Late Gothic chapel of St Joseph at the north part of the cathedral was completely removed. A Neo-Gothic tower which was crossing the main and the side aisles, flèche was created. Primary Steindl´s plan was to rebuilt all Neo-Gothic additional building and components in the cathedral. But those suggestions were declined by commistion and which requested for cheaper Exchange of old stone parts for the new ones. Re-Gothic (re-gothisation) of towers was not realized due to lack of money. This fact reflected in a cheaper construction material. During the Exchange of a base system in 1878 – 1882 cheap but low-quality sandstone from close stone-pit Spiššké Vlachy was used.[12] Its quick dilapidate outer surface resulted in removing of pinnacles and gargoyles because it endangered pedestrians. With the next reconstruction after 1882 good quality sandstone from Banská Bystrica was used.[11] The main Master builded of the big reconstruction in 1877 – 1880 was Josepf Weber. In 1880 – 1896 Friedrich Wilhelm Fröde from Wien was the main master builder. Supervision was done by Austrian architect Friedrich von Schmidt. After what a famous architect, Schmidt´ s student, Imrich Steindl has started to work on Budapest parliament (in 1885), Otto Sztehló beceme his successor. This architect used preservative method at The Matthias tower in contrast with previous purist method of his forerunners.The Sigimund Tower,The Matthias tower (except of roof),the inner side of exterior walls, the Medieval portals with reliefs,the stone inventory of interior and the whole temple (just intrior part) were kept from Neo-Gothic reconstruction. In 1896 was newly delivered Neo-Gothic interior equipment (altars, statues, pictures), which was bought and donated for Košice ´s Catherdral by Hungarian clergy, Košice Bishop and maecenas Zigmund Bubics. In 1906 a cathedral crypt was built under the north side aisle according to project of Frigyes Schulek. This crypt was prepared for imposing relics of Francis II Rákóczi and his companions from Turkey.
Big reconstruction 1978 until today
In 1970 area of St. Elizabeth Cathedral was declared as National Cultural Monument. All the profiled architectonic shaped (pinnacles, gargoyles, gadroon) were destroyed either by the rain water or were unmounted.Also the stone decoration at the north portal was very much defected by weathering.The cathedral reconstruction started again in September 1978 by detailed architectonic documentation. After a short break, works started again in 1984. In the meantime authorities started with the complex solution of Košice centrum monuments innovation, which was in 1983 declared as the biggest town monuments reservation in Slovakia. One of the factor that contributed to higher care of church was excluding motor-vehicle traffic from the main street in 1984 and a tram traffic in 1986.[13] During the reconstruction it was decided to use method of a maintain stage from the big reconstruction from the end of the 19th century.First the roof of the main and side aisled was repaired where were changed the ceramics coloured enamelled tiles but with origin patern from the 19th century.[14] The Flèche was reconstructed and it was necessary to add 264 pieces of plumber decorations. In 1980 – 1992 the most damaged part of temple and sacristy were reconstructed. The works were done by Polish company Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytkow from Vratislaw. It was necessary to construct the new crown gardoons, gargoyles and pinnacles – according to the accessible documents and projects from the town´s archival collection. Similarly the staircase towers were done. At gargoyles reconstruction it was done according to origin Medieval paterns which are retained in the museums. This reconstruction included also the interior repair of a temple . In 1992 – 1995 the south facade (cleaning and preservation), including window-pane was done. The Sigimund´s tower was under consistent innovation in 1995 – 1997 when a Rococo copper helmit was replaced. Cleaned and gilded plumber decorations are originals from 1775. In 2008 reconstruction of Rakoczy crypt was finished and in 2009 reconstruction of the most precious north portal was finished.[15] Today there are works at exterior of the north facade of the church and the west portal and interior of the crossed north aisle.The Matthias tower is waiting for the reconstruction.