The Church of Saint Ladislaus in Ógyalla

The old Catholic church was built in 1718 by Baron Ferenc Szluha on the ruins of the old church in the village. The image of Saint Ladislaus hung between two columns. The building was damaged in the earthquake of 1763, and then partially destroyed in the fire of June 29, 1911. Another one had to be built between 1911–13. Initially, master builder Mihály Nagy – the builder of the village hall and the village school – wanted to rebuild the damaged church. In the meantime, the idea of building a new church arose. “(...) Béla Feszty, a member of the village council, took on this responsibility after the competent ministry took a position in favor of building a new church.” The church was designed by István Medgyaszay in 1912. The construction of the church was provided by the construction company Boldoghy Gyula és Társa from Komárom. Adriana Récca, an art historian from Ógyalla, deals in detail with this remarkable building. “The central part of the church with a central floor plan is formed by an octagonal space, which is expanded in four directions, forming a cross structure, by niches. One of the niches is designed to be longer, it determines the longitudinal axis and the direction of the main entrance.” The niche extensions open with a Tudor arch. The northern niche gives place to the sanctuary. The central space is covered by a monumental wooden dome supported by consoles. The two side niches were separated from the central space by a gallery with a carved wooden parapet. “The dome is covered by a broken-plane tent roof, on the edge of which a polygonal lantern (so-called lamp) rests.” The wall surfaces of the church are divided by a rhythmic system of window openings closed by semicircular arches. The church's separate bell tower is made with a pyramid-shaped spire. There are currently two bells in the tower, one with a still working clock mechanism from 1925. The main altar, the altarpiece of the Assumption (Madonna with a Sickle type) and a decorated bench probably come from the old church. ; The church was renovated twice – during the service of Béla Szőcs and Vladimír Oravský as deacons and parish priests. In recent years, further professional renovation of the church has also begun (restoration of the altarpiece, painting of the spire, exploration of the interior of the tower). The Medgyaszay heritage is popularized not only by professional but also by amateur researchers. Students studying architecture are also interested in the Medgyaszay heritage. The original plans, construction logs and invoices of the church and parish discovered in 2017 in the Ógyalla parish have already been processed.