Holy Trinity and Saint Stephen of Hungary church in Velemér, Medieval Catholic church in Velemér, Hungary.
The Holy Trinity and Saint Stephen of Hungary church in Velemér is a single-nave Catholic church with a square west tower and a polygonal chancel. It is built mainly of brick, with stone used for the foundations, plinths, corner quoins, and window and door frames. The nave has three slit windows, and the chancel has a round window on its south wall.
The church is first documented in 1360, though its construction is presumed to date from 1250–1300, when Velemér was the ecclesiastical centre of ten villages. Its frescoes were painted in 1377–78 by János Aquila. Around 1560 the Batthyány family and the village turned Reformed and the frescoes were whitewashed; Catholics regained the building in 1732–33. After 1808 it stood roofless, with trees growing in the nave, until Flóris Rómer's 1863 survey led Bishop Ferenc Szenczy to have it roofed in 1864–65.
The frescoes were painted in 1377–78 by János Aquila, who left his self-portrait and artist's name on the north wall of the sanctuary. The most notable scenes include the Ave Maria, Saint Michael, Saint Anne with Saint Mary, and the twelve apostles. The church is not used for regular Mass; it is visited mainly by tourists, and its búcsú is held on Trinity Sunday and on 20 August.
The church stands alone at the edge of the forest at the southern end of Velemér, in Paprét, outside the built-up village. It is not used for regular Mass; visitors mainly come as tourists, and the interior can be seen during visits. The building is a listed monument, so check opening arrangements before travelling to this remote spot.
On the north wall of the sanctuary, the painter John Aquila left his self-portrait together with his artist's name, and the frescoes are dated 1377–78. The window sill on the east wall of the sanctuary was cut back to follow the lines of his painting. The church was once surrounded by a ditch and rampart.
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