OCHTIN
Á HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE THE ROMANESQUE-GOTHIC LUTHER AN CHURCH O C H T I N S K Á A R A G O N I T E C AV E
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE
A bird’s-eye view of Ochtiná in August of 2015 1241 The Tartars defeat king Adalbert IV, the son of Gertrude of Merania and King Andrew II, brother of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231)—who is also the patron saint of Košice Cathedral—near the river Slaná. At this time, a settlement already exists. 1249–1300 German settlers move into the depopulated and destroyed northern part of Greater Hungary (today’s Slovakia) invited by the king. These are mostly miners, craftsmen, and merchants. The Gemer Region develops. 14th C. The first shallow, later downward iron ore mining begins. Iron smelting and manufacture. The so-called hámre (hammer-works for metal processing run using water power) are set up along the river Štítnik. The METTERCIA of Rožňava In medieval Latin, me tertia stands for ‘myself three-fold’. It refers specifically to St. Anne who is depicted here with a careworn expression. The “threefold” epithet refers to St. Anne as a grandmother accompanied by her daughter and grandchild. The unique artwork is located on the left wall of the cathedral’s presbyterium. Its creator is unknown but the year 1513 is mentioned in the lower left corner. The religious motif is here exceptionally well combined with the detailed depiction of the miners’ activities. Thanks to this truly unique piece (in all of Central Europe), generations could for 502 years now observe the then-used
1556 Burning of the village. The magnate František Bebek collaborates with the Turks (!). Many locals die, others fall into captivity or are taken into slavery. 1694 The local miners write the Ochtiná Miners’ Regulations. Later, the mining association Konkordia (Latin concordia means unity, harmony) takes over the last 11 fields belonging to the Haviarske Brotherhood. 1746 Foundation of the guild, or so-called Society, of livestock rearers for self-help insurance against harm to their cattle. The Society existed until the mid-20th century as the Livestock Rearers’ Self-help Association in Ochtiná. 1836 Addendum to the Miners’ Regulation. 1905 Center of Hungarianization created – the Ochtiná Civic Readers’ Club. 1906 The village name changes to the Hung. Martonháza. 1909 Founding of the volunteer fire brigade. 1920 Return to the original name of Ochtiná. 1933 Connection to the power grid. 1945, 23th Jan. Liberation of the village. 1979–1981 Building of the grocery store. 2002 Connection to the gas mains. 2010 Reconstruction of the village road.
The municipal office and school opposite the church
O EB CVEI L L A G E H I S T O RDYE JOI N F YT H
process of deep ore extraction – a profession as much challenging as haz-ardous in nature. In the late Middle Ages, St. Anne had a reputation of a strong woman — an ideal of the emerging bourgeois family. She became the patron saint of miners and was believed to protect against sudden death as well as to multiply riches → Matt (13, 44). St. Barbara was born in 306 in Nicomedia, today’s Izmit in Turkey. Only with the widespread use of gunpowder in mining did her cult as a patron of miners and metal workers spread in the Gemer region.
THE ROMANESQUE-GOTHIC LUTHERAN CHURCH
The richly decorated Rococo entrance door Early 13th C. Construction of the church. 2nd ½ 14th C. Work on a broad spectrum of frescoes begins – distinctly similar to the ones in the nearby village of Koceľovce (6.5 km). The presumed painter is the Master of the Ochtiná presbytery and his workshop. The term is derived from Italian—al fresco, affresco = ‘on the fresh (plaster)’. The pigments (Latin pigmere = to paint) are substances which do not dissolve in the environment they are used in. Intermixed with water, they are applied onto the fresh plaster and due to lime carbonisation, they become extremely stable. The pigments were already known in antiquity (excavated in Pompeii). The frescoes predominantly depict the life of Christ, the personae of the Evangelists, the Apostles and the Saints. The Apocalyptic Beast can be found on the triumphal arch. The Holy Trinity, depicted as a head with three faces, is located on the eastern wall of the presbyterium, above the round window. Another precious medieval church is in the nearby village of Roštár (2 km). A gem of European calibre is, however, the Lutheran church building in Štítnik (4 km). 1470 ? Extension of the church via the northern lierne-vaulted aisle. Two arcadian vaults connect it to the central nave. 1545 ? Simon – the first Protestant minister in the village. 1611–18 Alteration of the original tower and addition of the new 26 kg bell. 1635 ? A vault replaces the flat nave ceiling; embellishment of the windows. 1654 ? and later Addition of northern sacristy and south entrance vestibule. 1697 Last significant rebuilding of the interior. Late 17th/early 18th C. Building of the gallery near the northern wall. 1894 Unveiled frescoes. Amateurishly restored 1901–1907. 1916 Wartime requisition of two church bells. 1940, June Lightning sets the church roof on fire. 1941, 16th Nov. Consecration of the new pipe organ. 1955, Oct. Electrical bell-ringing.
View from the choir 1977 The church roof is shingled (German die Schindel, Latin scindula = ‘a split piece of wood’). 1983 Installation of the new tower clock. 2008–09 Restoration of the interior (the altar and the pulpit). 2009, 30th Aug. Consecration of the restored altar and unveiling of the plaque dedicated to Ján Agnet → see chapter National Activists and Major Priests of Ochtiná. 2012 Preparation and start of the gradual restoration. Contact: Lutheran Church of Ochtiná ☎ +421 905 874 096 | www.ochtina.ecav.sk Old frescoes behind the altar
The Holy Trinity frescoe
T I CCKLÝUKO T H E R O M ARNOEMSÁQNUSEKO -GG OO TH T H SETROALN C H U R C H
1958–59 Renovation of the entire church. 1976 The Baroque frescoes of the triumphal arch are discovered.
OCHTINSKÁ ARAGONITE CAVE A gem among the caves of Slovakia, Ochtinská Aragonite Cave is one of its kind in Europe. The village of Ochtiná, previously known for its mining industry, is nowadays famous precisely through the Cave. It is located 2.5 km from the village, on the northern slopes of Hrádok Hill, at an altitude of 667 m. The entrance tunnel is 144 m long. Visitors climb a total of 19 m up 104 steps. Principal features: Multicolored needles, tufts and spirals of aragonite. Their luminescence is caused by impurities. Aragonite is composed of calcium carbonate, chem. CaCO3, originally described by the German Abraham Werner in 1796. He named it after the first finding place in Aragon, north-eastern Spain. Rarity: Its “natural” decoration is unique even by global standards. The oldest section, composed of milk-colored formations, is approx. 130,000 years old. The most widespread, however, is the second-generation aragonite. Composed of quills up to 50 cm and bizarrely curved helictites, which are believed to have been around for 14,000 years. The sections are based on the cave’s multicolored richness and spatial variety. Special attention must be given to the Starry Hall, the Milky Way Hall, and the Deep Dome, leading into an abyss. Only two other caves in the world have arag. “decoration”, in Mexico and Argentina. discovey / public accessibility 1954/1972
duration of tour length 30 min
300 m
temp. 7–8 °C
Locality and contact: In the village area. On foot: 2.5 km south-west of the village → check the map. By car: 10 km from the village of Štítnik, towards Jelšava. ☎ +421 58 488 10 51 | www.ssj.sk | GPS: N 48.6646 E 20.3092
Entrance to the cave from the air
OTCIH N VÁ I T E JCAAV OCH NTSIKNÁS K AÁ R AAGROANGIO TO S K EY Ň A
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN ŠTÍTNIK Štítnik lies 4 km south-east of Ochtiná and is at the intersection of the roads leading to: Rožňava (13 km eastward), Plešivec (14 km southward) and Jelšava (16 km westward). The well-known Gothic church houses exceptionally rare frescoes.
The oldest artworks
The font in front of the main altar
NATIONAL ACTIVISTS AND MAJOR PRIESTS OF OCHTINÁ The manse building features these two plaques:
Ladislav Bartolomeides, born on 16th Nov 1754 in Klenovec, today in the Rimavská Sobota district, was the third Lutheran minister in his family line. He studied at the german secondary school in Dobšiná, the Lutheran lycée in Kežmarok and at the birth-place of the Reformation – Wittenberg, and died on 21st Apr. 1825.
Ján Agnet, born on 14th Feb. 1921 in Závažná Poruba, Liptovský Mikuláš district, studied at the secondary school of his home town and at the theological faculty in Bratislava. In Ochtiná particularly active from 25th June 1950, he was on 26th July 1962 ordered to leave by the Communists. He died on 27th May 1993 and is buried at the cementery in Martin. The plaque located on the church wall lists the names of the 19 Ochtiná inhabitants who fell in WWI.
The plaque is located to the left of the church entrance.
MORE GEMS OF THE CAVE
MEDICUS CURAT, NATURA SANAT A doctor treats, but Nature cures.
WALKING ROUTES Ochtinská Aragonite Cave (Hrádok) – Ochtiná – Roštár – Koceľovce – Markuška – Vyšná Slaná – Rejdová (unique village of Gemer) trail length: 20 km | duration: 5 hrs | difficulty: high Ochtinská Aragonite Cave (Hrádok) – Štítnik – Gerlašská skala (blue trail) – Veľký vrch (green trail) – Kružná (yellow trail) – Brzotín – Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka trail length: 32 km | duration: 10 hrs| difficulty: high Penzión Jozefína, č. 113
☎ t info@penzionjozefina.sk Jaroslav Stankovič (cave administrator) | ☎ +421 905 412 048 stankov@ke.psg.sk | www.krasnohorskajaskyna.sk
CYCLE ROUTES Ochtinská Aragonite Cave – Ochtiná – Nižná Slaná – Dobšiná – Dobšinská Ice Cave trail length: 43 km | difficulty: high Ochtinská Aragonite Cave – Ochtiná – Štítnik – Honce – Rožň. Bystré – Rakovnica – Rožňava – Krásna Hôrka Castle trail length: 26 km | difficulty: high Rožňava – Jovice – Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka → the cave address can be found on the trail trail length: 27 km | difficulty: high Ochtinská Aragonite Cave – Ochtiná – Štítnik – Kunova Teplica – Plešivec –jaskyňa Domica – Kečovo (red trail) – Silica (Road 029) – Gombasecká jaskyňa trail length: 37 km | difficulty: high Silica (red trail) – chata Rakyta – Žedem, nápajadlá – Zajačia brána (red trail) – Jablonovské sedlo (red trail) – Lipovník – Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka trail length: 51 km | difficulty: high Note.: We also recommend the map and the tourist guide SHOCart Slovenský Kras, 2007; Slovenský kras, Horný Gemer, 2004.
Inscription of the caves of the Slovakian and Aggtelek Karsts in UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage List took place in 1995. Dobšinská Ice Cave was added to the List in 2000.
The village lies in the south-eastern part of the SloOCHTINĂ vakian Ore Mountains in the Valles of the river Ĺ tĂtnik. The hill rising above the village is called HrĂĄdok (809 m), and the aragonite cave is located here. In 1995 is was inscribed in UNESCO’S World Natural Heritage List. Village Altitude: 344 m. Population: 541. The coat of arms represents St. Nicholas of Myra (*280?–286). After the death of his parents, he distributed his inheritance to the poor and saved many from penury → hence our tradition of exchanging gifts on Dec 6th. Bishop Nicholas attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325, the place of adoption of the Nicene Creed (We believe in one God, the Father Almighty..., Lat. Credo in unum Deum ...). The name Nicholas is a combination of the Greek words for victory and people. The trail leading to the Cave: Start: – next to the church 200 km Trail length: 2.5 km 400 km Elevation: 465 m, Highest point: 809 m (HrĂĄdok Hill) ☎ +421 58 488 10 51 Slovak Caves Administration www.ssj.sk Road distances in km from Ochtinå– t Ă€UĂ“UOJL 4 t +FMĂ?BWB 21 t 1MFĂ?JWFD 19 t #FUMJBS 19 t 3PäʼBWB 17 t ,SĂˆTOB )Ă™SLB $BTUMF t ;ĂˆEJFM t ,PĂ?JDF ] UP UIF CAVES— t %PNJDB 28 t (PNCBTFL 26 t ,SĂˆTOPIPSTLĂˆ %MIĂˆ -ĂžLB 24 t %PCĂ?JOTLĂˆ *DF $BWF 43 The author has taken the liberty of contributing to the village anniversary by creating this pure Latin chronogram. The sum of the red characters symbolises the publication year. OCHTINĂ Â OCHTINĂ Â VICVs VetVstVs atqVe MontanVs Old and mine-workers’ village eCCLesIa LVtherana The Lutheran church aC CaVerna VnICa And the unique cave LaVs! Certe VenI! Glory! Surely visit! ÎŁ = 5xI+12xV+0xX+3xL+8xC+0xD+1xM= 2015 Hotel HrĂĄdok, OchtinskĂĄ Aragonite Cave
☎ +421 58 486 01 10 | hotelhradok@gemer.org | www.hotelhradok.sk Main information source: Obec OchtinĂĄ, Darina DudĂĄĹĄovĂĄ, Z PRACHU ZABUDNUTIA, Dejiny EvanjelickĂŠho a. v. cirkevnĂŠho zboru v Ochtinej, 2014
Financed through the Programme for Village Restoration 2015 Š Jozef SoroÄ?in, 2015, www.issuu.com/VydSorocinJ Š Layout: Jozef SoroÄ?in, Jr., www.about.me/sorocin Š Photos: Peter OlekĹĄĂĄk, peter.oleksak@centrum.sk and the village of OchtinĂĄ (all bird’s-eye shots) Š For OchtinĂĄ, SK-049 35 OchtinĂĄ 52, ☎+421 58 788 26 70 www.ochtina.ocu.sk, published by: Jozef SoroÄ?in JSL, RĂĄzusova 6, SK-071 01 Michalovce | sorocin23@gmail.com Š Print: Rotaprint, s. r. o., BarÄ?ianska 68, SK-04017 KoĹĄice