Franciscan Church and Monastery

In the eastern wall of the Main Square, in a closed row, on the corner of Ferences Street, stands the former Franciscan church and monastery, a significant building block dating from the end of the 14th century, originally built in the Gothic style, which was consecrated in one of the first years of the 15th century. The floor plan of the building complex shows the typical floor plan layout of medieval Franciscan construction. The elongated sanctuary, connected to the huge nave from the east with a triumphal arch and closing on 3 sides of the octagon, once served as a seat for the monks. The tall, Gothic bell tower was not built on the SW facade, but connected to the sanctuary from the N, next to the sacristy, and still stands today. The church is joined from the N by the monastery's rectangular wing, enclosing a courtyard, which is located on the SW side of the street. The current view of the building is from 1718-24. It was formed as a result of the Baroque-style reconstruction that took place between 1500 and 1500. This Gothic church rebuilt many of its original details, or at least covered them. However, the Gothic ribbed vault of the sanctuary and the relief depicting Christ on the Cross of Golgotha, now in a Baroque frame above the main entrance to the church on the west side, which is related to the carvings on the gate of the Cathedral, remained. At the same time, the facade on the west side was given a Baroque backdrop, the nave was vaulted and new Baroque altars and benches were made. Baroque crypts were created under the floor of the nave, in which burials are still held to this day. ; In the niches on the main facade on the west side, which is now predominantly Baroque, statues of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony of Padua can be seen. In the center of the pediment are Baroque stone statues of Mary, while on the two edges are Baroque stone statues of Saint Clare and Saint Margaret. ; According to tradition, Ferenc Rákóczi II, a deeply religious Catholic who stayed in Košice for a longer period in 1707 and lived in the former Captain's House opposite, performed his devotions in this church at dawn. ; The church and the adjoining monastery building were also built between 1370 and 1400. After the great fire of 1556, it was used as a warehouse and then as a barracks by the army. It was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1764-65, when the 2nd floor was added. It also served as the seminary of the Diocese of Košice, which was established at the beginning of the 19th century, so the building group is also called the Seminary Church. Today, a branch of the Catholic University of Rózság operates in the monastery.