One of the most charming medieval sacral buildings in Gemer has been preserved and can be found in the village of Chyžné near Jelšava. The Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary attracts attention from far and wide for its high brick gable and massive enclosure wall. It was built in the second half of the 13th century as a single nave with a square presbytery and attached sacristy. The peripheral walls and the vault of the presbytery, including the inner wall of the triumphal arch, are covered by a mural dated to the second half of the 14th century. The creator of the mural was one of the assistants of the author of the Ochtin presbytery. In the last third of the 15th century, the Zápoľský family acquired Jelšava manor, including Chyžné. Thanks to them, a rare carved wing altar, from 1508, with a central sculpture of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary with double-sided painted wings, from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča, is part of the interior of the church. The central statues of the angel and Mary are undoubtedly the work of Master Paul himself. The altar paintings follow the theme of the Marian consecration of the church. The open wings bear scenes of the Visitation, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Kings. The fourth picture of the St. George killing the Dragon refers to the donor Bubek family. On the Paschal side of the altar, the closed wings show the scenes of the Passion of the Virgin Mary: the Crucifixion and Jesus taken down from the Cross. On the partition the glorious Coronation of the Virgin Mary is portrayed, accompanied on two sides by the figures of the two holy Hungarian kings, Stephen and Ladislaus. The valuable furnishings of the church are complemented by a Baroque pulpit from the 1st half of the 18th century and a wooden emporium decorated with painted floral ornamentation. The decorated coffered ceiling from 1745 is equally valuable. The organ, from 1854, housed in a classicist cabinet, is complemented by Baroque statues of St. Helena and St. Barbara, which were originally part of the Baroque altar prior to its restoration.

Vladimír Ondrejovič