Staré Hory
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The heart of Staré Hory is a nice church, which is dedicated to mystery of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Michal Konigzberg built it in the Gothic style in 1448-1499. The church was expanded in 1589, because there wasn´t enough room for the pilgrims. In 1850 two new side naves were built. The magnet which attracts the believers is the statue of the Virgin Mary, which is situated on the main altar. Her head is decorated with a golden crown. The same crown has little Jesus too. She holds him in her left arm and in the right hand she holds a screpte. During Rakoczy´s rebellion the statue was burried in the place of present Studnička. In 1711 it was carried on the altar with celebrations. Since then Studnička is a holy place too, especially after Matej Hrivnak´s recovery. He drank the water from it and recovered. Since 1715 a Jesuit Teofil Delphini started recording notes about heard requests and recoveries. He remembered the recovery of a blind boy František Weiterschutz, who was taken to the statue by his unhappy mother. The first bishop of Banská Bystrica, František Berchtold, got complete indulgences for pilgrims, who would visit the church once a year from Pope Pius VI. The document is dated to the 10th August 1780 in basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. The pilgrims come there on Sunday after the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Already in 18th century there were about 20 thousand pilgrims a year.
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