The church dominates the old town square of Šentjur and is located on the site of the original church of St. John Stone. The church received its present name in 1676, with the present-day building constructed in 1736 and consecrated seven years later. The bell tower on the southern part of the building was added later, in the middle of the 18th century. Chapels, a presbytery and a bell tower in the south are attached to the nave.
If you are lucky, you will also hear a song of the old bell that bears the date 1488 and the inscription: "Maria hilf uns, uns hitt ... O rex glorie veni cum pace." The bell first rang at the Parish Church of St. George, which is depicted by the small relief of St. George slaying the dragon.
From history
On the Botričnica Hill, during the peasant revolt in 1635, the rebellious peasants killed the Šentjur priest Štefan Magerel who had called on peasants from the pulpit to donate to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to God, that which is God's; before they killed him, they made him carry a large log to the top of the hill on his shoulders.
On the Sunday before St. George’s Day (20 April) in 1539 the St. George Square acquired the right to its own seal and coat of arms, and at the same time, the right to justice. According to legend, gallows stood on Botričnica Hill, where executions were carried out. Locals still call this area Gauge (the Gallows).
For lovers of art history
The interior of the church is vaulted with barrel vaults and adorned by a Baroque altar from 1740. In the centre, one can admire the Pietae statue surrounded by flying angels; above her is Veronica with the cloth with which she drew a face to Jesus. If you step inside, do not forget to look up towards the glass chandelier, which is part of the narrative of the glazing tradition of our region, allegedly created in the first half or the middle of the 19th century.
