Cerkev Device Marije Vnebovzete, po domače Marija na skalci, je z 850-letno tradicijo najstarejši sakralni in kulturno-zgodovinski spomenik na Idrijskem. Lokacija in podoba sta edinstvena, saj se cerkev dominantno dviga nad krajem in je vidna daleč naokrog.
Legenda pravi, da je prvotno svetišče na tej lokaciji postavil tolminski grof, ki je v te kraje rad zahajal na lov. Na skalci, kjer sedaj stoji cerkev, naj bi se mu trikrat prikazala podoba Device Marije. Kot obeležje na to prikazovanje je sklenil postaviti kapelo.
V dolgih stoletjih svoje zgodovine je cerkvena stavba doživljala mnogo predelav in prenovitvenih del. Prva cerkvica, verjetno povečini lesena, je zavzemala le prostor sedanjega prezbiterija. Imela je ozek zvonik, manjšo ladjo in prenosni oltar. Stavba je bila v 15. st. dodobra razširjena in predelana, prezbiterij pa so pozidali v gotskem stilu.
Cerkev in umetnije v njeni notranjosti so bile izrazito na udaru med 2. svetovno vojno, ko so Spodnjo Idrijo in s tem cerkev kot strateško točko nad dolino, zavzele okupacijske sile. Branitelji slovenskega naroda so se bili primorani na vse načine zoperstaviti okupatorju. Glede na to, da je bila cerkev Marije na Skalci nekakšno oporišče okupatorjev (služila jim je kot stražni stolp, v njej so imeli tudi shranjeno orožje) so domačini poskušali uničiti to strateško pomembno točko. Posledica teh obleganj v borbi za svoj kraj so bile delno uničene freske v prezbiteriju. Ob enem izmed prenavljanj cerkve, v 90. letih 20.stoletja, pa so v zidovju cerkve našli celo neeksplodirano bombo iz druge svetovne vojne, ki je prizanesla cerkvi Marije Vnebovzete.
Cerkev farne zavetnice je vseskozi živo prisotna v zavesti krajanov in neločljivo povezana z življenjskim utripom Spodnje Idrije. Marija na skalci postane vsako leto središče praznovanja zlasti v tednu okrog velikega šmarna (15. avgusta), ko je cerkev vedno znova slovesno okrašena in množično obiskana. Veliki šmaren v Spodnji Idriji ni le cerkveno praznovanje, temveč tudi osrednje letno krajevno in vseljudsko slavje.
Pogled pri cerkvi na skalci/View near church on the hill
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The church of the Virgin Mary, or as the locals call it – Mary on the hill, is with it's rich 850 year the oldest sacral, cultural and history monument in the municipality Idrija. The location and the look of the church are unique, because of it's place, where the church dominantly rises upon the village and is seen from far away.
Legends says, that the first sanctuary was build by a count, which came to this place for hunting and who lived in the town Tolmin. On the hill, where the church stands today, it said that he saw the image of Virgin Mary three times. As a proof of his seeing’s, he announced to play a church on this place.
The first wooden church was very small. It got bigger in size after the end of the 15th century. The building got it baroque style in the second half of the 17th century. This can today be traced on the bell tower, which states the date 1674.
The church, which is oriented in the east-west side, is 30 meteres long.
In the second world war, the church was used by the Italian occupation as a watchtower. They use it as a strategic place, from where they could spy on the enemy all around. When they rebuild the church in the 90's, the villagers found a bomb, that didn't explode and was from the second world war. Luckily, there were no casualties
The church has a big influence on the villagers of Spodnja Idrija and shares its roots with them. It has a major role on a event, that happens every year in the week around the 15th of August. The church is on that date very often visited.
