St. Anna's Church, Žbince

St. Anne's Church in Žbince

The first mention of parish was in the year 1323. The Church was consecrated to st. Margita. About year 1335 paid local parson Pavol one tenth from revenue from his parishioners to papal cashbox. Hamlet’s part, in which was located the church, was sporadically called Kostolné Žbince. In 17th century served church service evangelical reformed preachers, possibly preachers of evangelic Augsburg’s religion. Žbince’s parish belonged to Slovak Calvinistic parishes in the Middle Zemplín.

It went down sometime in the beginning of 17th century. After priests came back and churches were returned under catholically control in the 18th century, then Žbince with surroundings belonged to parish Budkovce. In the year 1788 established Bishop Karol Asterházy in the village local chapel. Košice’s Bishop Dr. Ondrej Szabo set up vicarage with subsidiaries Hatalov, Vŕbnica a Šamudovce. Some wooden house served as rectory in which lived local citizen. Stone rectory was built in 1810 and it have served until now.

Original church had been much damaged after it was taken away from Catholics. Only small masonry kept. Church services were temporarily operated in chapel of “Bolestná Panna Mária” in Bárkoczyov’s castle. Current church of parents of the Virgin, st. Joachim & Anna, was finally build in 1843. It was build in neoclassical style. The tower of church was rebuild between years 1878–1879 and repair of church was in years 1905 – 1929 – 1969.

Interior is vaulted with Prussian arch, which belts reach to cornices of doubled pillars. In western part is stone choir. On main altar is painting of st. Joachim and Anna, the Virgin sign. The author of painting is Karol Wolch 1849. Pulpit, baptismal font and organ are from the time of finishing building. Repainting of interior was in 1927 and in year 2000.

The first keeper of parish was Pavol (Paulus Sac. De Cheb) from 1332 to 1337. From 1737 to 2007 were supersede 24 priests. Only Andrej Pulík worked in rectory 43 years (from 1943–1986). He died in 5.8.1986 in Žbince and he is buried in local cemetery.