Plague Pillar (Morový stĺp)

Brutal wars, natural disasters, periods of crop failure, and starvation led to widespread epidemics in many Slovak towns. In the summer of 1710, the town of Trenčín also fell victim to a mass outbreak. A sad chapter in the town’s history, during which more than 1,000 people died, is commemorated today. This is done by the Plague Pillar of the Holy Trinity located in the city center.

The pillar was erected in 1712 by Count Mikuláš Ilešházi (Illésházy). It likely originated from the workshop of Viennese stonemasons. They were working in Trenčín on the Jesuit church reconstruction.
This church, now the Piarist Church, had been destroyed by fire in 1708. Later, the county head Ján Ilešházi (Illésházy) had the Holy Trinity sculpture renovated by the Piarist priest Vasil Králik (Krolig). A full structural, conservation, and restoration effort was carried out in 1977–1978.

The dominant feature of Trenčín’s main square then waited nearly 40 years for further improvements. The City of Trenčín, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, restored this important monument as part of the comprehensive reconstruction of Mierové Square. You can see the results for yourself while walking through the city center.

 

Meaning of the inscriptions:

Each side of the pedestal bears a Latin inscription:

  • North side of the pedestal:
    GLORIA DEI PATRIS ORBEN SANGUINE RECREANTIS
    Glory to God the Father, who brings the earthly realm to life with blood.

 

  • East side of the pedestal:
    GLORIA DEI FILII ORBEM SANGUINE RECREANTIS
    Glory to God the Son, who brought the world to salvation through his blood.

 

  • South side of the pedestal:
    GLORIA SPIRITUS SANCTI OBEM DONIS GRATIAE REPLENTIS
    Glory to the Holy Spirit, who filled the earth with gifts of pure love.

 

On the front of the pedestal, below the Ilešházi family crest, is the following text:


EXCELLENTISSIMUS AC ILLUSTRISSIMUS DOMINUS COMES,
DOMINUS DIVUS NICOLAUS ILLESHAZY DE ILLESHAZA
PERPETUUM A TRENCHIN QUIDEM AC LIPTOVIENSIS COMITATUM HEREDITARIUS,
SUPREMUS COMES SACRAE AC ACTUALISSIMUS CONSILIARII
HUNGARIAE AULAE CONSILLIARIUS

The most noble and most illustrious lord and county head,
the renowned Count Mikuláš Ilešházi,
lawful hereditary ruler over Trenčín and Liptov counties,
supreme advisor to the Imperial-Royal Majesty,
and chief chancellor of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Source: VELIKÝ, I. – STROHNEROVÁ, Ľ.: Ulice a námestia mesta Trenčína. Zoznam ulíc námestí mesta s výkladom. Prehľad pamätníkov, pomníkov, pamätných tabúľ a náhrobníkov. Mesto Trenčín a Štátna krajská knižnica Michala Rešetku v Trenčíne. Trenčín, 1999.

 

Gallery

Pošlite tip na tento článok svojim priateľom!