Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, Kopčany
The Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Kopčany is the only authentic, almost completely preserved Great Moravian church with its original use and function. The building was originally part of the Slavic hillfort in nearby Mikulčice, where the remains of the foundations of several churches from this period have been found.
The church was probably built sometime during the 9th or 10th century near the Mikulčice hillfort, which lies just 2 km to the west on the road leading east to the Nitra region. There is a fortified area in the south of the church, probably a great manor from the Great Moravian period. Structurally, it was a small building with a simple layout with a longitudinal nave and an irregular square apse, such as were widespread in Europe from the 8th century onwards.
What can you visit here?
It was filmed about Kopčany
Information from history
History of the church
The church was built in the 9th century in connection with the construction of the Great Moravian hillfort Mounds in Mikulčice. It served as a parish church, first mentioned in 1392, until the 18th century.
Church of St. Margaret of Antioch – history
Structurally, it was a small building with a simple layout with a longitudinal nave and an irregular square apse, such as were widespread in Europe since the 8th century. The apse and possibly the nave were vaulted with a simple vaulted vault. It was probably not a normal church, as archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a western two-roomed narthex (nartex) with a rectangular plan, which was added to the church.
Reconstruction of the church
The building had its first major reconstruction around the middle of the 13th century. At that time, the windows on the north side of the nave were bricked up, as well as the window on the west front. As part of this reconstruction, the entire interior was also decorated with frescoes.
Sometime at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, the windows on the south side of the nave and sanctuary were enlarged into a Gothic form with a stone nunnery. In the second half of the 15th century the church was fortified and surrounded by a moat. These modifications were probably related to the war clashes between Hungary and the Kingdom of Bohemia, when it served as a support point near the border.
Experts also place the demolition of the western vestibule and the insertion of a large Gothic portal into the western facade in this period. This was connected with the moving of the altar from the apse to the nave and the raising of the floor level. The reason for these alterations was the insufficient capacity of the church for the growing congregation, some of whom had to stand outside during services. The large portal thus acted as a triumphal arch. Along with these modifications, an emporium was built in the west part of the nave and the west window on the south wall of the nave was reduced in size to accommodate it. Sometime in the following period (around the mid-16th century), the east window of the apse was bricked up, and the newly created whole area was decorated with a mural, probably depicting St. Margaret.
The next stage of construction dates from 1647, when the altar was moved from the nave back to the apse, where the southern Gothic window was also bricked up and turned into a niche for worship in the interior. In the 17th or 18th century, the nave lighting from the south was redesigned. The previously reduced west window was completely bricked up and the east window was replaced by a large Baroque semicircular window opening. Minor alterations were also carried out in the following period, most recently in 1926.
Archaeological research
The first archaeological research around the church was carried out in 1964. In 1994, the conservationists began research work with the aim of mapping the construction development of the church and at the same time archaeological research of the surroundings of the building was started. In 2004, graves containing Great Moravian jewellery were uncovered, confirming the dating of the church. During the research, in 2000, the restoration of the church began, but it was not carried out in the most appropriate way from today’s point of view.
The church received a new roof, the windows were restored, the Gothic portal was bricked up and a new entrance was created, but its shape did not correspond to the pre-Romanesque period. The interior floor was also lowered to its original level. In 2008, the roof of both the nave and the apse was raised by about half a metre to divert rainwater away from the walls. In 2014, the exterior of the church was altered by changing the unsatisfactory shape of the western entrance, better presenting the bricked-up Gothic portal and marking out the plan of the western narthex. Large flat stones were also used to mark the places near the church where the oldest graves were found.
Source: apsida.sk
Where to get tourist information?
Contacts
Na Velehradě jsou dvě informační centra, kde mohou turisté a návštěvníci získat informace o prohlídkách, akcích, výstavách a dalších aktivitách, které v obci dějí.
Municipality Kopčany
Kollárova 318/13, Kopčany, Slovensko
tel. +421 0908 717 876
e-mail: obec@kopcany.sk
web: www.kopcany.sk
Museum in Kopčany
Kopčany 1146, Kopčany, Slovensko
tel. +421 (0)911 086 847
e-mail: muzeum.kopcany@gmail.com
web: www.zahorskemuzeum.sk
Information office Holíč
Bratislavská 272/6, Holíč, Slovensko
tel. +421 034 32105 82
e-mail: tikholic@holic.sk
web: www.holic.sk
How to get to the church?
The Church of St. Margaret of Antioch can be reached directly from the municipality of Kopčany along an asphalt road and a pure dirt road. From the main road leading through the municipality in the direction of Holíč, it is necessary to turn left almost at its end. The turn-off is marked with a signpost pointing to the monument. If you were coming from Holíč, the signpost is missing from this side. Shortly after the turn you will reach the Kopčany fields, where the church building is visible from afar. It is on the left. The church building can be reached by a dirt road or directly by car. In 2019, a footbridge was built over the Morava River to connect the Mikulčice area with Kopčany.
Tips for accommodation?
- Pension Luna, Kollárova 891/15, Kopčany
- Apartments Kopčany, Kollárova 890, 90848 Kopčany