In an abandoned village church, archaeologists have discovered a mysterious jug with a surprise

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

A jug filled to the brim with silver medieval coins was accidentally discovered by workers under the rotten floorboards of an abandoned church. The treasure was hidden more than 300 years ago, during the Civil War, by a blind Polish priest in the Church of the Rosary of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Obisovce (Poland), which is located near Kosice in Slovakia. This church in a tiny village of only three hundred inhabitants has been the center of some very interesting historical events for centuries. What did historians find out about this treasure, digging in the ancient archives?

For the church to be functional, it must be kept in proper shape. It is necessary to regularly carry out repair work on everything that is there: from the spiers on the domes to the benches and the floor. In one of the dilapidated churches in the village of Obisovets, builders were doing major repairs. Under the floorboards, which were almost completely rotted, workers discovered a hidden room. They called the archaeologists and they were in for a very unexpected pleasant surprise. They found a sealed clay jug. When the seal was torn from the neck of the vessel, coins fell from there in a silver rain.

After scientists examined this treasure, it turned out that the coins date from the end of the 17th century and the earliest years of the 18th century. Of course, ancient treasures have been found quite a few times, and nothing supernatural is hidden here. But it is very, very rare to find out the true history of the treasure.

Due to the fact that all churches keep old documents and historical records, in this case, the researchers were able to find out the history of the cache very quickly. Experts from the Triglav Archaeological Society analyzed and studied all the old archives, studied the coins themselves. They believe that, in all likelihood, the treasure was hidden by the priest of this church during the civil war in the region. Surely these were donations from parishioners.

Despite the fact that the Obisovece village was never large, very few people always lived there, it turned out that it was she who became the epicenter of interesting historical events.

In the 1680s, there was an uprising here called the "Tökölei uprising" or "the Kuruts uprising". It was started by Hungarian refugees, known for their anti-Habsburg sentiments. They came from different places in the territory of the then Ottoman Empire.

A very interesting romantic story is connected with this, which still arouses the interest of not only historians, but also ordinary people. Of course, not without a woman. Her name is Helena Zrinski, she is better known as Ilona Zrini. She was the wife of the Transylvanian ruler Ferenc I Rákóczi. An intelligent, educated woman who speaks several languages. Her area of interest included not only her children, of whom she had three, she was interested in jurisprudence, politics and even military affairs. The Habsburgs, wishing to maintain their influence in Hungary, declared Leopold I the guardian of the heir to Prince Rákóczi. Of course, this was not at all part of his mother's plans.

This brave woman became a symbol of struggle and courage, she made history in front of her contemporaries. For several years Ilona held the defense of the Mukachevo castle. She had very difficult trials to her share: almost at the same time she had to survive the death of her father, her eldest son and husband.

For Ilona, the leader of the rebels, the so-called "king of the Kuruts", Imre Tököli, was an unexpected consolation in grief. He was a decade and a half younger than her, but this did not become an obstacle to their sincere tender feelings for each other. The couple's secret dates ended with a lavish wedding celebration that lasted eight whole days! It took place in the same place - in the Mukachevo castle. Even now, the description of this impressive event is a must on any excursion in this area.

Ilona directed all her strength and love of her big heart to her remaining two children and her young husband. Unfortunately, the happiness did not last long, Imre was expelled from the country and exiled to Turkey. Ilona was left alone again. She had to protect her family, her children, make responsible decisions and give orders. This brave lady went to the walls of the castle to maintain the morale of the soldiers and show that she firmly believes in victory.

Ilona was loved and respected. They believed her. And both our own and others. Enemies did not even fire at the castle when she left, so as not to injure her. By her example, she showed that freedom can and should be fought for. Unfortunately, the fortress, after three years of heroic defense, fell as a result of betrayal. Subsequently, the mother's business of fighting the domination of the hated Habsburgs was continued by her son, Ferenc II Rakoczi.

Ilona was exiled with her daughter to a monastery, and her son to a Jesuit school. The rebellious princess died in 1703. Imre died just two years after his wife. Their souls were reunited not in this life. In honor of the couple, monuments were erected, holidays are celebrated. Their love story has outlived its time.

Although the Kuruts rebellion was suppressed in 1687, the world was soon destroyed again. This time, the region was rocked by civil war. The peasants fought against the noble Hungarians. In these difficult times, according to church documents, a Polish priest, blind in one eye, was in charge of the church in Obisovets. The parish was small, but apparently the parishioners were generous. According to archaeologists, the amount of the discovered treasure is quite substantial.

During the fighting, the priest was wounded and he fled. Why he did not take the coins from the cache remains unknown. The church was almost completely destroyed by the war. A new building was built in its place in the middle of the 19th century. Finally, already in our time, they decided to completely renovate the church, because it is an important spiritual center in the region.

Construction work began and the remains of that old church were found under the building. After the team of archaeologists was invited, they discovered a secret room, under the floorboards of which the coveted treasure jug was found.

Now work on the study is still underway, although a lot of scientists have already figured out. Who knows, maybe the researchers, after a thorough analysis, will find out some more secrets of the treasure or details of the history of the blind priest? While experts are studying rare medieval coins and trying to find answers to all questions.

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