Tuesday, January 29, 2013
History of the Church of St. John of Nepomuk
Why was the monument built? Many people can ask why Santini designed the church on the Green Hill. That is an easy answer but we should go back to the history of the monument.
Václav Vejmluva was an abbot of the monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou since 1705. It was discovered in the tomb of John of Nepomuk in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Abbot Vejmluva decided to build an extraordinary church near the monastery. The first question was who would be the architect? His decision was clear - Jan Blažej Santini Aichel was a well - known baroque architect, so Václav Vejmluva chose him to make a project of the monument. In 1719 Santini started to work on the project. Václav Vejmluva introduced him his visions about the form of the church on the Green Hill although he did not accept traditions of religious buildings. However he accepted the structure of a pilgrimage destination. Santini tried to project the church as a star, every symbol of the church he designed in detail.
In summer 1719 Santini started his work on the monument. It was extraordinary in that time. The project could not stop him to realize it, such as measuring area, digging and building bottom walls of the future church. It was difficult to ensure available material and people who were working on the project. The first celebration of the church was when a foundation stone was placed in 1720. The building was constructed in the following year and in 1722 it was consecrated. The cloister was built in 1740 but during next years it was quite changed. After basic works it was neccesary to furnish the church. Santini designed the main altar which is made in details especially with a statue of John of Nepomuk. In the project of the church there were not mentioned any cemetery inside the area of the place where the church was. Santini unfortunatelly died before the completion of the church, so other artists had to complete the building.
The church on the Green Hill became the most visited pilgrimage place and lots of baroque events were organised there. Lots of people from further places visited this spectatular monument not only because of religious events even though because of the impressive beauty of the church.. At the beginnings of its existence there was a big fame of this place. However in 1784 the monastery and the church caught fire. In this time the abbot of monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou was Otto Steinbach from Kranichštejn and he did not want to repair damages after the accident. The monument fell into serious disrepair, the roof was broken and it was neccesary to make decisions to rescue the running of the church. People decided to give some money for repairs. It was not enough, the monastery was cancelled and in the church there were only masses to honour St. John of Nepomuk.
A few years later about in the year 1791 citizens of Žďár nad Sázavou and Nové Město na Moravě demanded repairs of the church. So the bishop Lachenbacher accepted demands and allowed only funerals in the church and he banned masses there. People did not agree with his decision and they wanted to change something. The Bishop was angry and he warned people if they did not agree he would demolish the church. Finally the roof was repaired and lots of repairs were made there. The church needed many repairs and it cost lots of money. People who liked the church invested to this repairs and it really helped to hold this pilgrimage place in nowadays form.
Vratislav from Mitronic became a new owner of the church in 1826. The church was a private property in this age and all decisions about the church were private. Unfortunatelly the owner was responsible not only for the parish church but also for the church on the Green Hill. Fortunatelly the owner fell being responsible for the church. Matěj Sychra was interested in the church on the Green Hill and could influence local authorities to save it. He helped to repair the church and in 1729 the church was consecrated again by him. Next year Sychra died.
The weather in the Highlands is sometimes very cold and it has influenced the building very much. Storms ruined the roof , frost destroyed roof frames, so other repairs were neccesary. In this age Josef from Ditrichštejn and countess Clam-Gallasov gave some money to repair it again. The Church on the Green Hill needed more and more repairs and the state wanted to decide about the future owner of the church.
In 1914 the First World War started and the church started to be less important in comparison with the defence of nation. After the war only windows.were changed. The church started to fall into ruin and next disaster appeared - the Second World War.
In 1953 the state became the new owner of the church and it has been since that time.The government has kept the church in a good state and it has repaired everything which has been neccesary. ( Especially in 70s and 80s of 20 century).
The memory became famous not only in former Czechoslovakia but also abroad and lots of people started to visit it again. In 1994 the church of St. John of Nepomuk was written to the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
Nowadays many people from all around the world know this extraordinary monument.Local people are really proud of this monument and they hope that Santini´s work would be never forgotten.
Radka Filipi
Václav Vejmluva was an abbot of the monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou since 1705. It was discovered in the tomb of John of Nepomuk in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Abbot Vejmluva decided to build an extraordinary church near the monastery. The first question was who would be the architect? His decision was clear - Jan Blažej Santini Aichel was a well - known baroque architect, so Václav Vejmluva chose him to make a project of the monument. In 1719 Santini started to work on the project. Václav Vejmluva introduced him his visions about the form of the church on the Green Hill although he did not accept traditions of religious buildings. However he accepted the structure of a pilgrimage destination. Santini tried to project the church as a star, every symbol of the church he designed in detail.
In summer 1719 Santini started his work on the monument. It was extraordinary in that time. The project could not stop him to realize it, such as measuring area, digging and building bottom walls of the future church. It was difficult to ensure available material and people who were working on the project. The first celebration of the church was when a foundation stone was placed in 1720. The building was constructed in the following year and in 1722 it was consecrated. The cloister was built in 1740 but during next years it was quite changed. After basic works it was neccesary to furnish the church. Santini designed the main altar which is made in details especially with a statue of John of Nepomuk. In the project of the church there were not mentioned any cemetery inside the area of the place where the church was. Santini unfortunatelly died before the completion of the church, so other artists had to complete the building.
The church on the Green Hill became the most visited pilgrimage place and lots of baroque events were organised there. Lots of people from further places visited this spectatular monument not only because of religious events even though because of the impressive beauty of the church.. At the beginnings of its existence there was a big fame of this place. However in 1784 the monastery and the church caught fire. In this time the abbot of monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou was Otto Steinbach from Kranichštejn and he did not want to repair damages after the accident. The monument fell into serious disrepair, the roof was broken and it was neccesary to make decisions to rescue the running of the church. People decided to give some money for repairs. It was not enough, the monastery was cancelled and in the church there were only masses to honour St. John of Nepomuk.
A few years later about in the year 1791 citizens of Žďár nad Sázavou and Nové Město na Moravě demanded repairs of the church. So the bishop Lachenbacher accepted demands and allowed only funerals in the church and he banned masses there. People did not agree with his decision and they wanted to change something. The Bishop was angry and he warned people if they did not agree he would demolish the church. Finally the roof was repaired and lots of repairs were made there. The church needed many repairs and it cost lots of money. People who liked the church invested to this repairs and it really helped to hold this pilgrimage place in nowadays form.
Vratislav from Mitronic became a new owner of the church in 1826. The church was a private property in this age and all decisions about the church were private. Unfortunatelly the owner was responsible not only for the parish church but also for the church on the Green Hill. Fortunatelly the owner fell being responsible for the church. Matěj Sychra was interested in the church on the Green Hill and could influence local authorities to save it. He helped to repair the church and in 1729 the church was consecrated again by him. Next year Sychra died.
The weather in the Highlands is sometimes very cold and it has influenced the building very much. Storms ruined the roof , frost destroyed roof frames, so other repairs were neccesary. In this age Josef from Ditrichštejn and countess Clam-Gallasov gave some money to repair it again. The Church on the Green Hill needed more and more repairs and the state wanted to decide about the future owner of the church.
In 1914 the First World War started and the church started to be less important in comparison with the defence of nation. After the war only windows.were changed. The church started to fall into ruin and next disaster appeared - the Second World War.
In 1953 the state became the new owner of the church and it has been since that time.The government has kept the church in a good state and it has repaired everything which has been neccesary. ( Especially in 70s and 80s of 20 century).
The memory became famous not only in former Czechoslovakia but also abroad and lots of people started to visit it again. In 1994 the church of St. John of Nepomuk was written to the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
Nowadays many people from all around the world know this extraordinary monument.Local people are really proud of this monument and they hope that Santini´s work would be never forgotten.
Radka Filipi
Monday, January 28, 2013
Finnish, English and Czech Christmas
During Christmas class of English Mrs. Stráská prepared for us a little bit of Finish culture and language because she has been the coordinator of the project Comenius with our partner school in Finnish Jyväskylä for two years.
We had the opportunity to get to know something about traditional Finnish Christmas. There is a huge difference between our Czech Christmas and Finnish, especially in meals, sweets and celebrations.
In Finland they have a special "Santa Claus". His name is Joulupukki. He lives in Lapland in the north of Finland. His name consists of two parts. The first part is Joulu and it means Christmas and the second part is from a verb nuuttipukki. Nuuttipukki is one of the old traditions of Finland when people wore clothes from goat skins.It was excited to get to know something from Finnish language, because Czech and English language are completely different from Finnish. We tried to match Finnish and English basic words connected with Christmas. We could listen to the traditional Christmas song Sylvian Joululaulu and look at a beautiful book about Finnish Christmas painted by a famous Finnish painter Mauri Kunnas. Finnish class was a big upgrading of normal English classes. I am sure we will remember this new experience!
Tereza Polednová, Ivana Novotná, I.B a kvinta class
Jitka Stráská
The lesson was prepared for 89 students)
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Nicodem's night
Every month on 3rd Sunday people can come to the Church of St.
John of Nepomuk and pray. On Sunday the church is open from 8 pm. People who
came the last Sunday before Christmas
were not speaking, they just came, sat and prayed there. There was only one
candle in the middle of the church, so it was very dark. The atmosphere was
very quiet and peaceful.
If somebody wants, he or she can come here to experience his
or her spiritual experience
like me on that impressive night.
Concert with candles
On the 3rd Advent Sunday at 4 p.m.there was a concert in the Church of
St. John of Nepomuk. The concert was called Concert with candles. There were really
lots of candles and the atmospere was beautiful. In that church the acoustics
is very good and this concert showed
this positive advantage again. Singers and musicians were teachers from the Art
School in Žďár nad Sázavou. They played classical music composed by famous
composers such as Vivaldi etc. We could hear singing, playing the piano, oboe,
flute and violin. People were enthusiastic, they were applauding cheerfully. I
also liked the concert, it was nice to be in that magnificent church and listen
to the very impressive performance of teachers.
Michaela Mužátková
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