There are nine large chancel windows. These two are on the North side. Again there is a repeated pattern with floral motifs. The right windows also contain the images of St Joseph and St Mary. INDEX
42. EPITAPHS
At left is the epitaph Nicholas Palffy displayed in a niche clad in armour. The year is 1601. At right is the epitaph of Peter Pázmány – Cardinal, Archbishop of Esztergom, scholar, founder Pazmaneum in Vienna, the founder of the University of Trnava and Bratislava Jesuit college. The epitaph is the work of sculptor A. Riegele Bratislava. Between them is an inscription forming a tombstone for Archbishops Lippaya and Pázmán.
43. CORONATION LIST
Next on the North wall there is a mural created in the 19th century with a list of royal crowned heads, along with dates of their coronations. Below the list is a small Northern portal. Notice the angels supporting the crown in the top left corner.
44. SACRED HEART
The statue which we glimpsed earlier is in fact the Sacred Heart. The devotion to the Sacred Heart is one of the most widely practiced and well-known Roman Catholic devotions, taking Jesus Christ's physical heart as the representation of His divine love for humanity.
45. HIGH ALTAR
The high altar is in the shape of a Gothic reliquary and was made by J. Lippert. The vertical extension consists of a richly decorated tower, with two angels holding a gold crown above the crucified Jesus, and smaller angels watching from the top.
46. HIGH ALTAR – DETAIL
Across the high altar are found six saints – patrons of the city. On the left and from left there are St. Juraj, Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, and St Vojtech. On the right are St. Nicholas, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Florian.
47. TABERNACLE
Central to the high altar is the tabernacle where Elements of the Eucharist are stored. On the tabernacle are the emblems of the four evangelists, with the Lamb and Flag emblem of Christ at centre. Above is an image of Christ holding the chalice and bidding worshippers welcome.
48. APSE WINDOWS
The three windows at the end of the apse continue the repeated floral theme. The central window contains images of three kings with St Stephen in the middle.
49. AUMBRY
To the right of the high altar is an aumbry, set into the wall. Previously blessed Elements of the Eucharist are stored here for use during the week.
50. ST THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX
We continue back along the South wall of the chancel to this statue of St Thérèse of Lisieux. Generations of Catholics have admired this young saint, called her the ‘Little Flower’, and found in her short life more inspiration for their own lives than in volumes by theologians. Yet Therese died when she was 24, after having lived as a cloistered Carmelite for less than ten years. She never went on missions, never founded a religious order, never performed great works. The only book of hers, published after her death, was a brief edited version of her journal called ‘Story of a Soul’. But within 28 years of her death, the public demand was so great that she was canonized.
51. CRUCIFIX
Below the next window stands a small crucifix – a reminder of the sacrifice made by Christ for the salvation of his people.
52. SOUTH CHANCEL WINDOWS
Four more stained glass windows line the South side of the chancel. Again we see the repeating floral theme, but there are variations here. The second window from the left has images of St Cyril and St Methodius. And the window next to it has images of King Stephen and his Consort.
54. CHOIR STALL DETAIL
What do we have here? A monk in prayer with his rosary?
55. LAMB AND CROSS
There are many variations on the theme of Jesus as the Lamb of God – ‘Agnus Dei’. Here the Lamb is pictured with a small Cross.
56. SOUTH CHANCEL BISHOP
As we prepare to leave the chancel, we come to the ‘twin’ of the bishop we saw on entering the chancel. There is a plaque below, but it is largely obscured from view.
57. CRUCIFIX
A striking crucifix is attached to the column at the front of the nave.
58. SOUTH EAST NAVE
This is a view from further up the nave, and looking back. The crucifix is out of view on the left. We notice from the left: the baptismal font, the colourful window, the man on horseback with a glass panel in the floor below, a further window, and the large altar at right.
59. BAPTISMAL FONT
This Gothic baptismal font from 1409 is 92 cm high. It has a Neo-Gothic helmet cover.
60. SOUTH NAVE, EAST WINDOW
The lower part of this colourful window is essentially a collage of scenes, placed about a version of the ‘Pieta’, with Mary nursing the body of her crucified Son.