The monumental basilica is an outstanding representative of Romanesque architecture in Hungary and the only medieval monastery that has survived in such good condition.
The church of Ják was founded by the nobleman Márton Nagy Jáki in 1214. The Ják clan originated from the Bavarian knight Vecellin of Wasserburg, who arrived in Hungary as an escort to Queen Giselle, the wife of Stephen I. He later became head of the king?s guards and received a large estate.
The style of the church is mostly Romanesque, but some Gothic elements can also be seen. The influence of stonecutters from Northern France, Normandy and the Bamberg Cathedral in Burgundy are apparent in the ornaments. The construction of the church was halted by the death of its founder and the Mongol invasion of Hungary, so it was completed only by the third, so-called provincial school. These workers showed their mastery in the northern nave, the coffered ceiling of the main and southern naves and the Saint James Chapel.
A charter dating from 1331 mentions 50 monks at the monastery. After 1562, however, monastic life in Ják ceased.
The church was restored after 1626, but the building was hit by lightning in the mid 17th century, severely damaging its southern parts. Three pillars and most of the main nave wall had to be rebuilt. In the early 18th century, the towers were refurbished.
The Episcopal authorities of Szombathely decided in 1846 that the church should be renovated with special attention paid to historical considerations. Since then, the church has been considered not only a place of worship, but a national symbol. An important renovation project was carried out in 1896-1904 when many of the original stone carvings were removed from the church and taken to a museum.
A new organ was installed in 1902 and new pews afterward. Italian restoration artists arrived in 1937 to uncover the Saint George fresco behind the main altar and other frescoes under the southern tower.
In 1988, a new bell was installed to replace the grand bell removed from the church during World War II.
Source: jak.hu
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