<p><b>Komenda</b> is a village in the <a href="/pages/w/110834238939380">Upper Carniola</a> region of <a href="/pages/w/103787872993257">Slovenia</a>. It is the seat of the <a href="/pages/w/624668640882591">Municipality of Komenda</a>. It includes the formerly independent settlement of <a href="/pages/w/353211694816011">Kaplja Vas</a>.</p><h2>Name</h2><p>Komenda was first mentioned in written sources in 1147–54 as <i>de sancto Petro</i> . The name of the village is identical to the Slovene common noun <i>komenda</i> '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandry_" class="wikipedia">commandry</a>', referring to a property and residence owned by the <a href="/pages/w/108223225864879">Knights Hospitaller</a> from 1223 to 1872. The noun <i>komenda</i> is borrowed from Medieval Latin <i>commenda</i> 'entrusted property'. In the past the German name was <i>Commenda</i>.</p><h2>Mass grave</h2><p>Komenda is the site of a <a href="/pages/w/439541279465855">mass grave</a> from the period immediately after the Second World War. The Svešek Alder Mass Grave is located at the edge of the Svešek Alder Woods along a forest road northwest of <a href="/pages/w/107539809268465">Žeje pri Komendi</a>. It contains the remains of 10 to 15 prisoners from Kamnik murdered in May and June 1945. Their nationalities and whether they were soldiers or civilians is unknown.</p><h2>Church</h2><p>Above the settlement is a complex with a castle, the <a href="/pages/w/107929925896584">parish church</a> dedicated to <a href="/pages/w/112378665444213">Saint Peter</a>, a parsonage, stables and a cemetery. A church in Komenda was first referred to in documents dating to 1147, however in 1726 the old church was pulled down to make way for the new building. The current one was built in the <a href="/pages/w/112169525460974">Baroque</a> style until 1729 upon the plans by the architect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Ma%C4%8Dek%2C_Jr" class="wikipedia">Gregor Maček, Jr</a>. The interior and the surroundings were redesigned in the first half of the 20th century upon the plans by the architect <a href="/pages/w/112426672106117">Jože Plečnik</a>.</p>