Radoma´s bells in remembrance beat

Roman Catholic Church in village Radoma near town Giraltovce built on an elevated knoll in the years 1792 - 1797. It is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and therefore forgive ("Kermes") is held there in the first Sunday in October on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Since the village is also Radoma parish, therefore acting in the church office every day. In other villages round, Mestisko and Sandal, falling branch Radoma parish office, the Mass is held alternately every second respectively, every third Sun On working days, the office held in the early hours, but on Sundays and public holidays at ten o'clock.

On the tower are three bells in Radoma church a big, small and smallest  (signaturka-name). Large and small bells ranging two-part two strokes (ding-dong) and with three strokes signatúrka (ding-ding-dong). Perfect way to handle that chimes only knew a few people knew best and only sexton. Rang the following: the great bell was sounded for the first time before the Holy Mass. With little bell is ringing a second time before the Holy Mass and just before the start of worship rang a third time and with all three bells (zazvananie). On Sunday it was to hear a little bell in the middle and at the end of the Mass, the solemn Mass was already ringing with all the bells. Similarly, with all the bells ranging also before the advent of major storms. The combination of large and small bell to ring notified that someone in the village and died like the bells are also used during the funeral procession. After sunset every evening ranging small bell and continued his ringing signaturka in three-quarter beat (the call on pacer). During this ring all the people in the village was praying Angelus prayer. Signaturka also announcing some disaster such as fire in the village, flooding in the past, even raiding troops. From Good Friday until the Resurrection ringing never, ropes of bells tied faithful and use only the so-called rattle (rapkac)

The oral tradition of my father I learned that sometimes in the 17th or 18 century in the swamps near the village Stefurov found a huge bell, which were no other signs or symbols, which would make it possible to determine when and by whom this great bell made and how to get into a bog. The great bell discovered by chance a local shepherd swine also called Gonda so that if you wanted to oust the pig lying in a swamp, so they began to throw stones. When throwing stones as he heard of some marsh based ringtone. When he returned home and talk about how people in the village, so there the next day, all selected and after a short search discovered in the mud of a very large and very heavy bell. At the bell but nobody from the village Stefurov not remember and even the oldest inhabitants of the village.

Later, this huge bell was given to a neighboring village round, but since it was very difficult, so it could hang in a local church tower and hung it at only around a large 200 years old limetree near church. As the round belonged to the village parish office branch in village Radoma, it was decided that this huge bell moved to the village Radoma what happened and the bell was finally placed in the church tower in village Radoma

The bell was so heavy that when it rings start, or stop having to carry up to three powerful men. The sound of the huge bell in the very near deafening and it was to hear the surroundings until to town Stropkov, to village Kurima and to town Giraltovce. Bells were to even hear the Chmelov-Hill, where he very well heard furmani who drove horse-drawn carriage on timber to town Presov.

In the First World War, when arrived in Radom Russian troops and from the bell tower of the church dropped the team that will be melted at a military ammunition. Whether from the great bell has been produced munitions already knows, because the war ended shortly thereafter and it was probably Russian soldiers took with them to Russia.

Since then, the memories of the huge bell in the village Radoma transmitted from generation to generation.
 

(autor Juraj Pavlišin - senior, preklad do angličtiny Juraj Pavlišin - junior)