Photos of St. Stephen’s Basilica

While St. Stephen’s Basilica is a Catholic church, its could easily double as a shrine to Hungarian monarchy. The temple’s namesake, Saint Stephen I of Hungary, was the first King of Hungary. One of the chapels is dedicated Saint Emeric (Imre Herceg), son of King St. Stephen (Though, Emeric did not succeed his father, as he was killed by a boar on a hunt). Another chapel is dedicated to Saint Adalbert, the Bishop of Prague who is believed to have baptized St. Stephen and his father. The stained glass in that chapel depicts St. Leopold, patron saint of Austria. (Saint Leopold III was the Margrave of Austria from 1095–1136. Known as Leopold the Good, he is the patron saint Austria and was canonized in 1485.) It also contains a relic of Charles IV (1887-1922), Apostolic King of Hungary. There are also a statues of Saint Ladislaus, patron saint and king of Hungary (1077–1095); Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary (1205–1235); St. Margaret of Hungary, daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary (1235-1270) and sister of St. Kinga of Poland.

The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest - the Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert in Esztergom Hungary being the other co-cathedral. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction. Plans for the temple were drawn up in 1845, and after some years of construction, the uncompleted dome and its support collapsed. The collapse and the death of the original architect resulted in a halt in building until 1875. The dome was completed in 1889, and the church was finally consecrated in 1905.

The floorplan of St. Stephen’s Basilica is a Greek cross. It has seven chapels - one in each transept, one in each corner, and another one off the to side of the chapel in the southeast corner. The interior is neorenaissance with an abundance of multi-colored marbles and gilt capitals on top of engaged pillars. While not overdone (relatively) in decoration, it would not be described as “austere.”

The Holy Right

The mummified right fist, known as the Holy Right, rests in a reliquary in a chapel in the south transept. The Holy Right was detached from St. Stephen’s remains shorty after his death when it was discovered that unlike the rest his body, the right arm had not succumbed to decay. After a series of moves over the centuries resulting from theft, the hiding from foreign invaders, designation of who should guard the hand, World War II and Soviet repression, the Holy Right eventually ended up in the basilica.

Facades

The West Facade of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika)
The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction. Plans for the temple were drawn up in 1845, and after some years of construction, the uncompleted dome and its support collapsed. The collapse and the death of the original architect resulted in a halt in building until 1875. The dome was completed in 1889, and the church was finally consecrated in 1905.

The West Facade of St. Stephen's Basilica
The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction.

Nave

Nave of St. Stephen's Basilica
The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest - the Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert in Esztergom Hungary being the other co-cathedral. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction.

Nave of St. Stephen's Basilica
27230807587_db2ed9eddd_b

Nave and South Transept of St. Stephen's Basilica
42055901612_69642af145_b

Nave and Apse of St. Stephen's Basilica
The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction.

Apse

Cathedra of St. Stephen's Basilica
The Basilica of St. Stephen (Szent István-bazilika) is a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest - the Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert in Esztergom Hungary being the other co-cathedral.

Relief of St. Stephen in his Basilica
28227904778_91ac69d780_b

The Chancel with Statue of King St. Stephen in His Basilica
The statue is by Strobl Alajos. The basilica was consecrated in 1905 after some 50 years of construction.

Chapels

Stained Glass depicting St. Andrew in the Chapel of St. Joseph in St. Stephen's Basilica
40293736630_2953c74e89_b

Chapel of St. Adalbert in St. Stephen's Cathedral
Saint Adalbert was the Bishop of Prague who is believed to have baptized St. Stephen and his father. The stained glass in that chapel depicts St. Leopold, patron saint of Austria. It also contains a relic of Charles IV (1887-1922), Apostolic King of Hungary.

Detail of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in St. Stephen's Basilica
42055898362_4b30dcc3e1_b

Detail of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in St. Stephen's Basilica
42055894832_b7e6ddce99_b

Stained Glass

Stained Glass depicting St. Andrew in the Chapel of St. Joseph in St. Stephen's Basilica
40293736630_2953c74e89_b

Stained Glass Depicting St. Leopold in the Chapel of St. Adalbert in St. Stephen's Basilica
Saint Leopold III was the Margrave of Austria from 1095–1136. Known as Leopold the Good, he is the patron saint Austria.

Stained Glass Depicting St. Catherine in the Chapel of St. Cecilia in St. Stephen's Basilica
40293725560_218231fd8e_b

Stained Glass Depicting St. Henricus (also St. Emeric) of Hungary in the Chapel of Saint Emeric (Szent Imre Herceg)
Saint Emeric (Imre Herceg), son of King St. Stephen. Though, Emeric did not succeed his father, as he was killed by a boar on a hunt

Pulpit

Pulpit of St. Stephen's Basilica
27230780767_746eb5c3d0_b

Features & Details

Relief of St. Stephen in his Basilica
28227904778_91ac69d780_b

Candle Holder in St. Stephen's Cathedral
The interior of St. Stephen's Basilica is neorenaissance with an abundance of multi-colored marbles and gilt capitals on top of engaged pillars. While not overdone (relatively) in decoration, it would not be described as “austere.”

The Holy Right (the Mummified Right Hand of King St. Stephen) in its Reliquary in St. Stephen's Basilica
The mummified right fist, known as the Holy Right, rests in a reliquary in a chapel in the south transept. The Holy Right was detached from St. Stephen’s remains shorty after his death when it was discovered that unlike the rest his body, the right arm had not succumbed to decay. After a series of moves over the centuries resulting from theft, the hiding from foreign invaders, designation of who should guard the hand, World War II and Soviet repression, the Holy Right eventually ended up in the basilica.

Gilt Capitals and Colored Marble Adorn St. Stephens Basilica
The interior of St. Stephen's Basilica is neorenaissance with an abundance of multi-colored marbles and gilt capitals on top of engaged pillars. While not overdone (relatively) in decoration, it would not be described as “austere.”

Detail of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in St. Stephen's Basilica
42055894832_b7e6ddce99_b

Detail of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in St. Stephen's Basilica
42055898362_4b30dcc3e1_b

Reliquary Bust that of Blessed Charles IV in the Chapel of St. Adalbert in St. Stephen's Cathedral
The Chapel of Saint Adalbert contains the reliquary bust that contains a rib of Blessed Charles IV (1887-1922), Apostolic King of Hungary (Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor) and last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.