Barokizirana gotska cerkev
Podružnična cerkev se nahaja na Trati v Kočevju in je ena najstarejših cerkva na Kočevskem – prvič je bila v pisnih virih omenjena leta 1471. Pri njej je bila kasneje bratovščina Presvetega Zakramenta, kot poroča Valvasor. Včasih je bila cerkev božjepotna in so k njej od mesta vodile postaje križevega pota (ostala je le ena postaja), do leta 1986 pa je bilo tam pokopališče, ki so ga takrat premaknili v Kočevje. Danes najdemo imena tam pokopanih župljanov na ploščah na kapeli Božjega groba, ki stoji ob cerkvi, poleg so napisani pomembni dogodki kočevske zgodovine.
Prvotna stavba v gotskem slogu je bila v 17. in 18. stoletju barokizirana – najprej je dobila večji, triosminsko zaključen prezbiterij, temu so kasneje prizidali prostornejšo ladjo in zvonik – letnica 1751, vklesana v tlak, verjetno zaznamuje zaključek gradbenih del. Svetišče je dolgo 26 metrov, skupaj z zvonikom in križem pa visoko 28 metrov. Zvonik ima čebulasto kapo, ki je nadomestila prejšnjo koničasto, ter križno obokano zvonico. Na zunanji strani cerkve so v stene vzidani stari nagrobniki, leta 1987 pa je dobila sedanjo rumeno fasado z belimi trakovi. Obnovljena je bila večkrat, saj je kar dvakrat pogorela: 1910 zaradi strele in 1911 med obnovo, po letu 1986 pa so jo obnovili zaradi poškodb med 2. svetovno vojno in propadanja po njej.
Slika 1: Zunanjost cerkve (FOTO: Klara Štefanič)
Vhod v cerkev je skozi zvonico, nad njim je kor s polkrožnimi loki, ki je nastal med barokizacijo, s kora je dostop do zvonika. Pravokotno ladjo pokriva banjast obok, na vsaki strani jo delijo trije pilastri, nad njimi je venčni zidec. Tlak je iz kamnitih plošč. Prezbiterij, v katerega vodi širok slavolok, je križno kupolasto obokan, nanj je prizidana zakristija. Osvetljuje ga eno okno, v ladji pa so še štiri okna – vsa so polkrožno zaključena v neorenesančnem slogu in so, tako kot kapa zvonika, nastala med obnovo leta 1912 pod vodstvom stavbnega mojstra Romana Trea.
Slika 2: Notranjost cerkve (FOTO: Klara Štefanič)
Veliki zlati oltar, ki zapolnjuje zaključek prezbiterija, je iz 17. stoletja. Na zadnji strani je sicer nekaj podpisov in letnic – najstarejša je 1669 – vendar njegov avtor ni znan. Oltar je trinadstropen in obhoden. Glavna oltarna slika je Snemanje s križa, v atiki je Zadnja večerja, nad njo pa zlat kip pelikana, simbol Kristusa. Ob straneh je več kipov angelov. Cerkev je imela še dva stranska oltarja, posvečena sv. Valentinu in sv. Juriju, ki sta zgorela leta 1911, danes sta na njunih mestih sliki sv. Marije Magdalene in Marije z Jezusom.
Čeprav je imela cerkev na Trati v preteklosti večji pomen, je zdaj le podružnica – v njej so včasih med tednom maše, vedno pa na praznik sv. Rešnjega telesa in krvi, ko je tam maša s procesijo. Za Kočevsko je pomembna tudi arhitekturno kot primer barokizirane cerkve, bolj znana je še cerkev v Mozlju. Med ljudmi je »tratarska« cerkev verjetno najbolj znana po tem, da tam že od leta 2003 poteka kočevski oratorij, poletno druženje, ki ga organizirajo mladi za otroke. Kot dolgoletno udeleženko in soustvarjalko oratorija me, tako kot mnoge otroke in mlade kočevske župnije, na cerkev in njeno okolico vežejo spomini na poletne dni.
Klara Štefanič, 3. a (šol. l. 2021/2022)
VIRI IN LITERATURA:
- AMBROŽIČ, M. (2003). Župnijska cerkev sv. Fabijana in Boštjana ter sv. Jerneja v Kočevju in njene podružnice. Kočevje: Župnijski urad.
- RESMAN, B., SERAŽIN, H. (2010). Umetnostna topografija Slovenije. Ljubljana: Umetnostnozgodovinski inštitut Franceta Steleta ZRC SAZU.
- ZUPAN, G. (1993). Cerkve na Kočevskem nekoč in danes. Kočevje: Župnijski urad.
THE SUCCURSAL CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI AT TRATA IN KOČEVJE
A Gothic church restyled with Baroque elements
The succursal church is located at Trata in Kočevje and it is one of the oldest churches in the Kočevje region – it was first mentioned in written sources in 1471. Later the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament was stationed there, according to Valvasor. The church used to be a pilgrimage site and the Stations of the Cross lead to it from the town (there is only one station left), and a cemetery was located there until 1986, when it was moved to Kočevje. Today the names of the parishioners buried there can be found on plaques on the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, which stands by the church. Written on the plaques are also important events from the history of Kočevje.
The original Gothic building was restyled with Baroque elements in the 17th and 18th centuries. It first got a larger octagonal presbytery with only three sides and later a more spacious nave and bell tower. The year 1751, chiseled into the pavement, probably marks the end of the construction. The temple is 26 metres long and, together with the bell tower and the cross, 28 metres tall. The bell tower has an onion dome which has replaced the former pointy one, and a crosswise arched area for bell ringing. Old tombstones are built into the outer walls of the church and in 1987, it got today’s yellow facade with white strips. It was renovated several times because it burnt down twice: in 1910 because of a lighting strike and in 1911 during renovation. After 1986 it was renovated because of the damage caused during World War II and subsequent deterioration.
The church can be entered through the arched area for bell ringing, above the entrance there is the choir with semicircular arches. It was built when the church was restyled and enables access to the bell tower. The rectangular nave is covered by a bath-shaped arch, each side is separated by three pilasters, above them there is a cornice. The pavement is made from stone slabs. A wide arch leads into the crosswise domed presbytery with a vestry built onto it. The presbytery is illuminated by one window and the nave contains four more – all are semicircular, built in the Neo-Renaissance style and were made, just like the bell tower dome, during the renovation in 1912 under the supervision of the master-builder Roman Treo.
The large gold altar that fills up the final part of the presbytery was made in the 17th century. At its back there are some signatures and dates – the oldest is 1669 – but its author is not known. The altar has three storeys and can be circled around. The main altar painting is The Descent from the Cross, the painting in the attic is The Last Supper, above it there is a gold statue of a pelican, the symbol of Christ. There are several statues of angels along the sides. The church used to have two side altars dedicated to St. Valentine and St. George which burnt down in 1911. Today there are paintings of St. Mary Magdalene and Mary with Jesus in their places.
Although the Trata church was more important in the past, it is now only a succursal one – it sometimes hosts weekday masses, and the service with a procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi is always held there. It is also architecturally important for the Kočevje region as an example of a church restyled with Baroque elements, along with the more known church in Mozelj. The Trata church is probably most known among the people for the fact that the Kočevje oratorij, a summer gathering organised by young people for children, has been held there since 2003. As a long-time participant and co-creator of the oratorij, I am, just like many other children and young people of the Kočevje parish, bound to the church and its surroundings by memories of summer days.
Klara Štefanič, 3. a (school year 2021/2022)
SOURCES:
- AMBROŽIČ, M. (2003). Župnijska cerkev sv. Fabijana in Boštjana ter sv. Jerneja v Kočevju in njene podružnice. Kočevje: Župnijski urad.
- RESMAN, B., SERAŽIN, H. (2010). Umetnostna topografija Slovenije. Ljubljana: Umetnostnozgodovinski inštitut Franceta Steleta ZRC SAZU.
- ZUPAN, G. (1993). Cerkve na Kočevskem nekoč in danes. Kočevje: Župnijski urad.