Kapela Lurske Marije

The chapel in Kamniška Bistrica was built in 1897 and is dedicated to the Mother of God of Lourdes. It was owned by the Kamnik Citizens' Corporation.

In 1928, there were even two weddings in the chapel. The caretaker of the mountain lodge in Kam.Bistrica and someone else from Šmartno pri Litiji got married.

The exact reason why the chapel was erected is unknown. Probably for the same reason as in other alpine valleys: Vrata, Tamar, etc., because people felt that such a beautiful piece of mountain paradise could not be without a consecrated sign.

Thus, the priests who came to Kamniške planine and descended into the valley of Kamniška Bistrica were enabled to have a holy mass in the chapel, which was gladly attended by other mountaineers.

As a new and larger mountain lodge was built in Kamniška Bistrica in 1928, the number of visitors increased and even more longing eyes turned to Mary's Chapel, as they already felt the proximity of the storm of the Second World War. And how happy the people were if there was also a holy mass in the chapel.

Namely, there is a natural need in man to be grateful to Someone for the beauties and deep experiences he experiences in nature. It is an expression of his faith. And such a visible sign of man's faithfulness and gratitude to God is also the chapel in Kam. Bistrica. The chapel is dedicated to Mary of Lourdes probably because many chapels were dedicated to Mary of Lourdes at that time due to the proximity of the apparitions of Mary in Lourdes (1858) below the Pyrenees in France.

During the two world wars, funeral rites were also performed in the chapel for mountaineers injured in the mountains.

More than the war years, the chapel was affected by post-war times.

After the war, the chapel became a common people's property under the administration of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia.

In the autumn of 1951, the chapel was desecrated, like many other signs in Slovenia.

One night a whole truck of people and another personal car arrived and they swept everything out of the chapel and threw it into Bistrica. The statue of Mary of Lourdes was rescued from the water somewhere near Medvode by Mr. Hafner, organist and composer in Preska. He had it repaired and then donated it to a church in Primorska.

In 1965, the then parish priest France Gačnik began to apply to the municipality for the chapel to be returned to the parish so that worship could be held there. The chapel served as a warehouse for some time. And since no one was repairing it, it began to decay.

After two years, the Mountaineering Association in Ljubljana allowed the chapel to be renovated and to be used for worship.

In 1967, the chapel was re-covered with shingles by Janez Kočar from Zagorica. New windows and doors were made. Močnik Lojze from Bistričica painted the whole chapel. A statue of the Immaculate Conception was temporarily placed in it.

On May 15, 1967, on Pentecost Monday, the then Provost and Vicar General, Dr. Stanislav Lenič blessed the restored chapel. About a thousand people gathered. Erjavšek Franc (Stahovica 7) received great praise for the renovation, who sacrificed many hours and trips to restore the chapel.

After 40 of these years, the chapel again called for restoration. We missed its centenary, so we decided to festively beautify it for its 110th anniversary, so that it will become a real pearl in the heart of the Kamnik mountains, to be a source of pride and blessing. The soul of the restoration was Mr. Franci Galjot from Zagorica, who gained many sponsors and collaborators for the renovation. So now the chapel is the fruit of faith and piety and some inspiration from above. We are pleased that this inspiration was followed by many companies and individuals who supported the renovation financially, with their work and knowledge.

Thanks to Mr. Archbishop Alojz Uran, who chapel 12 Aug. 2006 blessed all the priests who like to march in this chapel and thus dedicate "Kamnik is beautiful as if it is nowhere better".

Thanks to Planinska matica Ljubljana and the Kamnik Citizens' Corporation for their consent to the renovation work with the desire to resolve the ownership of the chapel as soon as possible. We dare to express the wish that the chapel be left to the parish of Stranje, as it will take the best care of it. The parish has already shown this in advance with this restoration.

Read More