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Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca

Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca

Wooden shrine in memory of those fallen in the Isonzo Front

It was built in memory of the fallen soldiers who defended the battlefields of the Isonzo Front (1915-1917).

High above the Tolminka riverbed stands the shrine. The memorial church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca is dedicated to the Austro-Hungarian soldiers who fell on the Isonzo Front. It has been declared a cultural monument of national importance, and in 2018, it also received the European Heritage Label. The church is not only a Slovenian monument but also a memorial to the First World War and to all the nations that fought here.

On the outer walls of the church, 20 coats of arms of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire are painted.

 

Upon arrival, we are first surprised by the wooden structure, as the shrine is made of larch wood.

Next to the entrance doors is an inscription: Ultra cineres hostium ira non superest, which translates to Over the ashes of the enemies, anger does not reach. Above the entrance stands a bell tower with a sundial, the coat of arms of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and the inscription Pax – peace.

The interior of the church is designed in the Art Nouveau style. The lavish color decoration and the large white altar are striking.

The greatest impression is made by the oak wooden panels, which open like the pages of a book, with the names of 2,565 fallen soldiers burned into them.

The weather-exposed location is not favorable for the wooden structure, so the church has been renovated several times. After the First World War, it was first restored in 1934, then again in the early 1980s as part of Yugoslavia, and in 2004-2005, when the church was damaged by an earthquake. Minor repairs were also carried out in 2016 and 2017.

A picturesque point on The Walk of Peace

The Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca will not only enthuse you with its historical message and incredible construction. From the terrace next to the church, there is a view of the mighty Rdeči rob, the charming chain of the Tolmin – Bohinj mountains.

The church is one of the selected points on the famous Walk of Peace trail, which connects memorials and remains of World War I in the Soča Valley.

Declared the most beautiful monument of the First World War on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia in 1999, it was designated a cultural monument of national importance. In 2007, it was added to the list of Europe's particularly important historical and cultural heritage, and in 2018, it received the European Heritage Label.

In the memorial area of Javorca, more than anywhere else, we are aware of the importance of shared roots, common history, and shared values of all the peoples of Europe. We wish to preserve the collective memory of solidarity and creativity.

 

 

DO YOU KNOW?

  1. The plans for the church were designed by the Viennese artist Remigius Geyling, who was a lieutenant at the time. The construction was overseen by Géza Jablonszky, a lieutenant of Hungarian descent. The shrine was built in less than a year – from March 1 to November 1, 1916.
  2. Although there are 2,564 names on the oak panels, this is only a small fraction of those who lost their lives in this area of the Julian Alps during the First World War.