Statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Divina
The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Divina is a National Cultural Monument of Slovakia. Located in Divina, a village in the Žilina District of northern Slovakia, the sculpture dates from 1796 and stands on a stone base. It is made of sandstone and is noted for the fine artistic treatment of the saint’s face and drapery. Unlike traditional depictions, the saint does not wear a biretta. The statue also commemorates John Nepomuk Szunyogh, the last male descendant of the aristocratic Szunyogh family, who is credited with building the Divina church and rectory and who regarded St. John of Nepomuk as his patron saint.
June 2017 © Salman Diweny · CC BY-SA 4.0
September 2017 © Salman Diweny · CC BY-SA 4.0
September 2017 © Salman Diweny · CC BY-SA 4.0
June 2017 © Peter Crenshaw · CC BY-SA 4.0
June 2016 © Salman Diweny · CC BY-SA 4.0
Identification | |
| Title | Statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Divina |
| Type | Statue |
| Subject | Saint John of Nepomuk |
Historical context | |
| Village history | Divina was first mentioned in historical records in 1325 |
| Date | 1796 |
| Commissioned by | Count Johann Szunyogh |
Creator | |
| Associated historical claim | John Nepomuk Szunyogh is credited with the construction of the Divina church and rectory |
| Original sculptor | Unknown Baroque artist |
Materials | |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Support | Stone base |
Physical characteristics | |
| Headgear | The saint does not wear the traditional biretta |
| Artistic quality | Well elaborated facial features and drapery |
Iconography and meaning | |
| Patronage of saint | Patron of Bohemia, confessors, priests, sailors, rafters, millers, and the seal of confession; protector against drowning and tongue diseases; co-patron of the Czech Republic and Bavaria |
| Feast day | 16 May |
| Saint identity | Bohemian priest and martyr; canon at Prague Cathedral and preacher at the court of King Wenceslaus |
| Religious devotion | John Nepomuk Szunyogh had a special reverence for St. John of Nepomuk |
| Death | He was killed by drowning; his body was thrown into the Vltava River |
| Patronage | St. John of Nepomuk was John Nepomuk Szunyogh's personal patron |
| Family history | The Szunyogh branch was promoted to barons in 1588 and later became counts |
| Associated family | Szunyogh family of Budatín |
| Associated person | John Nepomuk Szunyogh |
| Commemorative purpose | A remembrance of John Nepomuk Szunyogh, the last male descendant of the Szunyogh family of Budatín |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729 |
Location and ownership | |
| Registry number | 1334/2 |
| Registry | Central List of the Slovak Memorial Fund |
| Cultural status | National Cultural Monument of Slovakia |
| Original site | At the entrance to the village of Divina, near the road by the stream |
| Project supporters | Supported by the Diocese of Žilina, Franz Duke of Bavaria, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, the Metropolitan Chapter at St. Vitus in Prague, the city of Nepomuk, Divina, Divinka-Lalinok, and Svederník |
| Current site | At the Church of St. Andrew in Divina |
| Location | Divina, Žilina District, Žilina Region, northern Slovakia |
History and restoration | |
| 2017 restoration project | The monument was restored and renewed in 2016–June 2017 after more than 190 years since its first restoration following flood damage |
| 2017 unveiling | Blessed and unveiled on 2 June 2017 by Ambassador Joachim Bleicker and Mayor Emil Molko, and blessed by Bishop Tomáš Galis |
| Restoration patronage | Restored under the patronage of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Slovakia |
| Assessment of replacement head | The replacement head appears to have been made by a less skilled sculptor, possibly a folk artisan |
| Condition after restoration | A groove around the neck showed that the head had been remade |
| Post-restoration setting | Placed on a new pedestal in front of the rectory on a masonry column |
| Restoration initiative | Initiated by architect Marek Sobola, PhD |
| Restoration history | Repaired after the flood, then repainted and restored several times over the centuries; latest restoration in 2016 |
| Damage history | Damaged by a severe flood in 1822; carried away by the water and later found headless |
| Evidence for date | A canonical visitation of the parish of Divina on 1 September 1828 states that the statue was sculpted in 1796 |
Significance | |
| Popularity | One of the most frequently depicted saints in the former Habsburg monarchy; monuments dedicated to him survive in many localities in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and are found worldwide |
| Historical significance | One of the few preserved architectural and artistic monuments in Slovakia that belonged to the count branch of the Szunyogh family of Budatín |
| Award | Honorable recognition in the 13th edition of Phoenix – National Cultural Monument of the Year 2017 for the exceptional restoration project |
Other | |
| Related publication | A Slovak book, Príbeh svätojánsky, Socha svätého Jána Nepomuckého v Divine, by Marek Sobola and other authors, was presented at the blessing and unveiling |
| Related postal issue | The Slovak Post issued official postal products for the occasion, including a postmark, envelopes, stamps, and stamp coupons |