Premonstratensian Church (Košice)

The Premonstratensian church ( _sk. Premonštrátny kostol), initially Jesuitical church (Slovak: "Jezuitský kostol"), is the most valuable Baroque object of Košice, Slovakia, especially notable for its interior.

It the Middle Ages, the Royal House (a seat of the Royal Chamber), stood in the place of the present church. The Captain Andrew Dóczi established there a dwelling and a chapel for Jesuits in the Protestant town at the beginning of the Recatholization. They were tortured here to death in the night from 6th to 7th of September, 1619 by soldiers of George I Rákóczi, the father of the Prince of Transylvania George II Rákóczi. They are the well-known Saint Martyrs of Košice (Marek Križin, Melicher Grodecký and Štefan Pongrác).

The bestial murder of the Jesuits shocked the town. All the Rákóczi ladies in fear of the God’s anger tried to achieve a pardon for the family. The wife of George II Rákóczi purchased the real estate for a church construction for the Jesuites inspired by the famous Church of the Gesù in Rome. The church was finished in 1681. In 1811 it was given to the Premonstrates. Today, the church is consecrated to the Holy Trinity.