A Pilgrimage to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Dear Henry,

While I was in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I stopped by the historical St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church for a little bit of a pilgrimage.  Let me tell you all about it.

The story of the Church of St. Elizabeth began in 1880 when missionary priest Father Michael Smythe organized the construction of a small wooden church a couple of blocks away from the current site. The Sacred Heart church was completed in 1882, and the Diocese of Little Rock began sending priests to Eureka Springs for mass monthly. The Sacred Heart rectory was built in 1904.  

In addition to the Sacred Heart Church, the St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy opened a small hospital and school next to the Sacred Heart church in 1902 called the Hotel Dieu Hospital.

The current building got its start in 1904, as Richard Kerens, railroad tycoon and one of the builders of the Crescent Hotel, built a memorial rotunda, inspired by the Hagia Sophia, for his mother, Elizabeth, who had died in 1892. In 1908, after consultation with Bishop Fitzgerald of the Little Rock Diocese, a nave was attached to the end of the rotunda, and on May 11, 1909, the Church was dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary.  The bell tower was built in 1910.

There is no record as to why the church did not keep the name "Sacred Heart," but Richard Keren's mother was named Elizabeth, and he also served as the ambassador to Austria-Hungary, which gives a strong connection to St. Elizabeth of Hungary and seems like a reasonable dedication, all things considered.

In 1913, the Hotel Dieu Hospital was closed, and the statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and two kneeling angels were moved to the current church. These historic statues are still on display today.

The church began to struggle with maintenance immediately. While its construction was sound, the dolomite stone church was difficult to heat, and the variable temperatures took their toll on the building and its artwork. However, the church was operated as a mission church and did not have a regular priest assigned until the 1950s, which limited the type of maintenance and construction that could be done.

Fortunately for the church, Father Joseph Lauro was assigned in the 1950s, and he began renovations immediately. He enlisted the Italian sculptor Checchi Mario to create additional marble statues, including the 1953 installation of the Our Lady of Fatima and organized the installations of the Stations of the Cross along the ramp leading down into the church.

Further restorations occurred in 1983, with the installation of the 7,500 crystal chandelier, and in 2014, with a complete roof rebuilding.

The rotunda "Marian" ceiling was painted a deep blue with stars in 2019.  

The church also holds a mystery. The statues of the kneeling angels, installed on each side of the main altar after Hotel Dieu Hospital closed, disappeared sometime in the 1980s and remained missing until right before the 100th anniversary Mass when they suddenly reappeared unharmed in their original places. To this day, no one knows where the angels were hidden or who was responsible for their removal or return. 

I was sad to learn that the original Sacred Heart Church and Hotel Dieu Hospital are no longer standing.  A fire destroyed the buildings in the 1930s. However, the original rectory is now the Mount Victoria Bed and Breakfast.

The church also holds a relic from St. Therese of Lisieux and a gorgeous statue of the French saint.

This is such a pretty little church, I was drawn to its stunning artwork and statuary, and I'm impressed that the parish enlisted local artists Jim Fliss, Bruce Wright, and Don Underwood to do much of the restoration work rather than seeking artists from abroad. A descendant of Richard Kerens, Liz Ryan designed the newer stained glass windows in the nave. The original windows of the church, which remain in the rotunda, were all rose red. 

The church also has a beautiful garden, which is a wonderfully peaceful place for contemplation.  You can see the Christ of the Ozarks statue off in the distance from the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary is also listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not!  It is the only church that is entered through the bell tower.  The bell tower is also believed to be where Richard Kerens last saw his mother.

I can't recommend a visit enough. Masses are available at 8:30 AM on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and the chapel is open for contemplation throughout the week. A gift shop is also on-site and open 10-4 daily.

I'm definitely going back the next time I visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Check out my video tour here: https://youtu.be/lhadMwZzhK4

xoxo a.d. elliott

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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