The chapel itself is not old, you can even see the year 1934 on its stairs. In addition, it is closed by an opaque iron gate. Nevertheless, it is a building that can attract attention and is also a typical example of the fact that we look at things seemingly mundane differently if we know the story that is connected to them.
The chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in 1934 by Ján Holmik, a merchant from tar. That's why they call it Holmik's Chapel. In the times of the First Czechoslovak Republic, he did business here with several commodities, but he was best known mainly thanks to the "U Holmika" store, where he sold clothing. Until then, people used to make fabrics from the hemp they grew, while men's trousers, called chološne, were made from sheep's wool. However, Smolník was a city and the urban fashion also belonged to it. According to the memories of the oldest inhabitants, it was possible to buy clothes here at affordable prices, which were much more expensive elsewhere. As a trader, Ján Holmik did not rely on a high margin, but made a profit from a large turnover. People came to it not only from Smolník, but also from Úhorná, Mníšek nad Hnilcom, Helcmanoviec, Prakoviec, and even Gelnice.
The prosperous businessman was supposed to be a respected man at first glance, not only because of his always elegant suits, but also because he was almost half head to head taller than everyone, so he aroused respect. He was also popular because he also gave clothes to decent workers from a tobacco factory and their families in installments. He had a wife, Elza, and two children, and he looked satisfied.
The change came when he was the first inhabitant of the city to buy a car. He often went to Košice for goods, on the way to Štós he still sold clothes to some other merchants, for example in Jasov, and he brought enough to his shop. In 1934 he returned to Smolník, while his wife Elza and son Jozef were in the car with him. The roads formed only a muddy and stony surface, so far mainly furmani passed through them. Ján Holmik was disobeyed by the brake, just as he was descending a steep slope from Štósky sedlo. In the sharpest corner, he got out of the way and the car began to roll like a ball. At that moment, he allegedly shouted "Maria, help!" ("Maria, help!") And the car stopped. Nothing happened to anyone and he perceived it as a miraculous intervention of a saint.
The whole town immediately began to talk about the accident, and in the same year Ján Holmik had this chapel built on the site where he found the alleged grace instead of dying.
Smolník
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