Tüskés Anna (szerk.): Omnis creatura significans - Tanulmányok Prokopp Mária 70. születésnapjára (2009)
Antik és középkori művészet
Omnis creatura significans this example only, it is probable that the canonized kings of Hungary could appear as exterior decorations of parish churches in other royal boroughs as well. Churches of Saxon towns with privileged legal status in Transylvania could fall into this category as well, such as the parish church of Nagyszeben (today: Sibiu, Romania), one of the wealthiest and economically more powerful cities during the times of Sigismund of Luxemburg. The cult of the Hungarian canonized kings flourished in the parish of Nagyszeben in the first half of the 15th century, the church of which was dedicated to Mary the Virgin. If one can rely on the scattered data hinting on the representation of the three saint kings of Hungary on the exterior of the sacristy of the cathedral in Zagreb, then it is probable that they could be depicted on the outer walls of other cathedrals as well, for example, in Nagyvárad (today: Oradea, Romania). It is highly probable that they were represented at ecclesiastical bodies entrusted with notary functions, too, like on the outside of the provostal church in Székesfehérvár, dedicated to the Holy Virgin, where king Stephan and his son Emerich were buried, then canonized by king (Saint) Ladislaus in 1083. A fragment of the exterior decoration of the church in Őrszentpéter shows an armoured figure of a probably Hungarian saint king. His representation could be linked with the role the community fulfilled as guardians of the country at Western border of Hungary. While researching the exterior decorations of churches and their protective function, one has to take into consideration the patron saint of a given church as well, since patrons and protective saints may be related. For example, the patron saint of the church in Pelsőc is the Holy Virgin; in Marosszen- tanna, Saint Anne. In these cases, the saint kings on the outer walls defended the Church of Mary—the Land of Mary by extension—, since the Hungarian saint kings commended themselves and the country to her. The parish church in Gelence was dedicated to Saint Emerich; the cathedral of Zagreb, to Saint Stephan. Representing them on the exterior could show their importance as patron saints. The appearance of the Hungarian saint kings together with Saint Christopher would need a separate treatment, though only one such case is known today. Representing them side by side could result in the mutual contamination of their roles. In relation with this blending one should draw attention to an interesting calendar connection, as well. Saint Christopher’s Day is on 25th July, Saint Anne’s on 26th July, and Saint Ladislaus’ on 29th July. The three important festive days are too close to each other to pass unnoticed: they must be entwined with each other in function. One cannot exclude the possibility of representing the three saint kings as exterior decorations of city halls, castles and towers due to their protective and guarding function (especially in the case of Saint Ladislaus). Still, no such example is known today. 88
