Church of St. Simon and Jude

The Church of St. Simon and Jude is the parish church of Škofljica, a settlement just south of Ljubljana on the edge of the Ljubljana Marsh. It is dedicated to the two apostles Simon and Jude, whose shared feast is kept on 28 October, and like many village churches in central Slovenia it is the focal point of the community, standing in a churchyard on slightly raised ground with its bell tower visible over the roofs. The settlement grew from a rural village into a commuter suburb of the capital, but the church still marks its old centre.

Village churches of this type in Carniola usually combine layers from several periods. A medieval core is often hidden under Baroque alterations, with a nave of modest size, a chancel with a rib or barrel vault, a tower topped by an onion or pyramid roof, and altars carved and painted in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The details of this building's history are not widely recorded, so visitors should look for themselves at the stonework, windows and altars, which reveal how the church was altered over time. Inside, the patron saints are usually shown with their attributes: Simon with a saw and Jude with a club or a medallion bearing the face of Christ.

The church also plays a role in the life of Škofljica. Services, weddings and feasts are held here, and the patron's day brings a small celebration. The churchyard contains older graves and memorials, and the setting is calm, in contrast with the traffic of the main road nearby. Doors are not always open outside services, so it can help to ask locally or time a visit for a service if you want to see the interior.

The surroundings add interest. The Ljubljana Marsh, which begins close to Škofljica, is one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Slovenia, with remains of prehistoric settlements built on piles in the shallow water, and the area near the village holds traces of Iron Age settlement. A quarry lake near the village is used for recreation, and a monument connected with the National Liberation Struggle stands in Škofljica. The area is easy to explore by bicycle, since flat roads and paths cross the marsh to the south of Ljubljana.

The church is a short stop rather than a major sight, and it suits visitors who like village churches, cyclists on the marsh paths and anyone with a local interest in the history of the area. A visit takes under half an hour. Dress modestly if you go in, and keep in mind that it is a place of worship and a working parish church.