Church of the St. John of God / Kostol Sv. Jána z Boha - Spišské Podhradie (North-East Slovakia) - Roman Catholic Churches on Waymarking.com

Church of the St. John of God (Kostol Sv. Jána z Boha), a part of former Hospital and Brothers Hospitallers convent (Nemocnica a kláštor Milosrdných bratov) in Spišské Podhradie is the key architectural element of this historic Baroque complex.

Spišské Podhradie estabilished first hospital (later poorhouse) in 1327 as a charitable facility providing accommodation and the employees took care of old, disabled, homeless and sick people. There was a church near the hospital. Hospital, with own church, was administered by the Augustinian order since 1399 and Augustinians also founded here own convent.

Whole complex was given into hands of Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God (Merciful brothers) in 1672. The fraternity rebuilt slowly delapidating and partially demolished Gothic buildings in Baroque hospital with a new church and convent during years 1727-1736.

Church of the St. John of God, consecrated in September 29, 1737, is a simple single nave (cross vaulted) rectangular structure 7 meters wide and 25 meters long. The front of the building has volute gable with inbuilt tower. On the church's front facade in a stucco frame are a Baroque paintings of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Nicolas. There is a Latin inscription on a painted table with a chronogram stating that the hospital is consecrated to St. John of God. Capital letters of the chronogram stand for Latin digits and show year 1736. The interior of the church dates back to the 18th and 19th century. The main altar was made in 1737, in the centre of the altar there is a painting called Celebration of St. John of God painted by Martin Speer.

Novadays church, owned by Merciful Brothers, serves as a filial church for both the local Greek-Catholic and the Roman-Catholic community.