Szent Péter és Szent Pál kápolna

Built upon layers of history, the Szent Péter és Szent Pál kápolna stands as a testament to Óbuda’s enduring spirit. A church, possibly commissioned by King Stephen and Queen Gisella, graced this very spot as early as 1015. Some scholars believe it was Orseolo Péter who commissioned this first church. Yet, time and turmoil erased those early structures. The Szent Péter és Szent Pál kápolna we see today arose from the vision of Barwick Keresztlély Ignác and Genszky Simon. They launched the initiative in 1735, laying the cornerstone in 1744. Architect Paur János György shaped the building, completing it in 1749. The church’s single nave stretches through three sections, leading to the octagonal sanctuary. Inside, a wrought-iron balustrade, crafted in 1773-74, surrounds the main altar. Atop this altar sits a statue of the teaching Christ. Flanking him, statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul stand guard. To the left of the altar, the baptismal font and a rococo-style pulpit catch the eye. To the right, a painting of Saint Charles Borromeo adds to the rich décor. Side altars honor Saint Juliana, Saint Anne, and the Holy Cross. The so-called “Kiscelli Altar,” originally from the Trinitarian monastery on Kiscelli Hill, also resides here. This altar once housed a statue of Mary and was a place of pilgrimage. Outside, the main façade, dominated by a central tower, boasts a three-part arched portal. Sculptures adorn the entrance: Saint Rosalia above the ornate wooden door, Saint Sebastian and Roch in niches flanking the choir window, and atop it all, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The 45-meter tower houses three bells. The largest, weighing 812 kg, was cast in 1928 by Szlezák László. It bears inscriptions honoring the Virgin Mary and a plea to remember Hungarians in need. A middle bell, made in 1996 by Gombos Miklós, commemorates the church’s 250th anniversary. The smallest, also cast by Szlezák in 1928 and recast by Gombos in 1996, honors Saint Joseph. The Szent Péter és Szent Pál kápolna has witnessed centuries of change. It has been a silent observer to the ebb and flow of Óbuda’s history, a beacon of faith amidst the tides of time.