Roman Catholic Church in Șumuleu Ciuc, Baroque Catholic pilgrimage church in Șumuleu Ciuc, Romania.
The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage church is a Baroque basilica built from 1804 to the plans of Konstantin Schmidt, with two towers finished in 1830 and a facade copper statue of Mary cast in 1837 by Rothenbacher of Brașov. It measures 58 m long, 22 m wide and 55 m high. Inside, the 1831 choir was built by Miklós Papp and Antal Pfeiffer, and the 1931 Wegenstein organ has 2,824 pipes.
Franciscans settled here in the 15th century and built a Gothic church and small cloister between 1442 and 1448, with John Hunyadi contributing spoils from his victories over the Ottomans. In 1661 a Turkish attack burned the church and monastery and killed or captured those sheltering inside. The present Baroque church was begun in 1804 to plans by Konstantin Schmidt, its towers finished in 1830, and it was consecrated on 20 August 1876 by Bishop Mihály Fogarasy.
The limewood statue of Mary with the Child, carved around 1515–1520, is 2.27 m tall and stands at the high altar. Pilgrims kiss and touch its feet and hold votive objects against it; the sword cuts on its face and neck are said to date from the 1661 Turkish attack. Votive tablets hang on both sides.
The church stands on a hill in the Șumuleu Ciuc district, north of Miercurea Ciuc, and can be reached on foot or by car. The interior is entered through a porch arranged in 1838 by Félix Názán. The nave is 58 m long, 22 m wide and 55 m high, so allow time to walk its full length.
The statue survived the 1661 Turkish attack and fire; a legend says the Turkish commander wanted to take it, but it became so heavy that eight pairs of oxen could not move it, and he cut its face and neck with his sword, marks still visible. Pope Francis celebrated Mass here on 1 June 2019 and gave the Virgin the Golden Rose.
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