On Carmelitska Street there is an outstanding architectural monument that reflects the medieval spirit of Prague. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world flock here to pray and worship the sacred figure of Christ kept in the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious.
The church was built in the early XVII century on the initiative of Lutheran Germans and named after the Holy Trinity. It was one of the first small-scale buildings in the Baroque style, but the name of its creator has not survived. In 1624, after the Battle of White Mountain, the church was donated to the Order of Barefoot Carmelites by Ferdinand II for victory. The new owners named the Church in honor of Mary the Victorious, reconstructed it and built a monastery nearby. Currently, the facade of the church has the look it acquired from the Carmelites in the middle of the XVII century. At the same time, during the reconstruction, the entrance to the building was moved to the opposite side to distinguish the Carmelites from the Protestants.
Today the street is named after this order - Carmelite.
Possession of the Carmelite temple ceased in the XVIII century, when Emperor Joseph II dissolved their monastery and transferred ownership to the Order of Malta. Hundreds of years later, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was returned to the Carmelite Order, to which it still belongs. The monumental facade of the church is decorated with a sculpture of the Virgin and Child, decorated with gilding. Inside the church there are two chapels: on the right is a figure of the Madonna of 1626, on the left - the chapel of the Holy Cross.
The main altar was built in 1716-1717. It is decorated with statues of Madonna and Saints Teresa, St. John, Elisha and Elijah, Joseph. The walls of the temple are painted with paintings by famous icon painters of the XXVII - XVIII centuries. On the right side of the church is the altar of the Child Jesus, where in a glass box is kept a wax figure of Christ, especially revered by the faithful.
At the top of the bell tower of the temple are three bells by ancient masters. The last of them was acquired by the Carmelites in 1718. Under the church is a tomb with the remains of more than two hundred Carmelites buried in the XVII - XVIII centuries. Among them are famous Spanish generals, secular ladies and children. Currently, the tomb is in poor condition due to flooding of the basement of the church with water. It is closed for visits and excursions.
In souvenir shops in Prague you can often find glass or porcelain figurines in magnificent royal robes - a copy of the statuette of the baby Jesus, kept in the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious on Carmelita Street. Thousands of believers come to the church with prayers and petitions to the Prague Jesuit, and he helps them. People believe that it brings them peace, health, the birth of children and happiness. As a token of gratitude for the help, many return to the temple with gifts and offerings.
During the communist regime, the authorities tried to stop worship, but the number of pilgrims from around the world still reached tens of thousands a year. Especially many pilgrims came from South America, where Catholics revere the Prague Jesuit.
The figure depicts a child - Jesus Christ, she is 47 cm tall, made of wood and covered with wax. The baby's right hand is stretched forward, as if blessing, and the left holds a ball with a cross. The statuette was made in the XVI century in Spain by an old monk. There is a legend that the baby Jesus himself appeared before him.
This figurine was received as a wedding gift from his mother, the Duchess of Spain Maria de Lara, who married the Czech diplomat Wratislav of Pernstein. She brought the statuette to the Czech Republic. Their daughter Polyxtena later donated a figure of Christ to the Church of Mary the Victorious.
During the Thirty Years' War, some churches in Prague were destroyed, but the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious survived, only the figures of Jesus had their hands damaged. They were rebuilt, and the Prague Jesuit took a place of honor at the altar.
Several times a year the nuns disguise the figure of Christ in elegant attire adorned with precious stones and gold. The color of dresses is selected depending on the season and church holidays. In total, Ezulatka has more than a hundred outfits, all of which were donated by grateful believers. The most valuable dresses were donated by Emperor Ferdinand III and embroidered by Maria Theresa. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI presented the Baby with a golden crown.
The Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious is open for visits daily. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims come to the church to admire the ancient architecture, rich decoration and worship the world-renowned Prague Jesuit.
The church was built in the early XVII century on the initiative of Lutheran Germans and named after the Holy Trinity. It was one of the first small-scale buildings in the Baroque style, but the name of its creator has not survived. In 1624, after the Battle of White Mountain, the church was donated to the Order of Barefoot Carmelites by Ferdinand II for victory. The new owners named the Church in honor of Mary the Victorious, reconstructed it and built a monastery nearby. Currently, the facade of the church has the look it acquired from the Carmelites in the middle of the XVII century. At the same time, during the reconstruction, the entrance to the building was moved to the opposite side to distinguish the Carmelites from the Protestants.
Today the street is named after this order - Carmelite.
Possession of the Carmelite temple ceased in the XVIII century, when Emperor Joseph II dissolved their monastery and transferred ownership to the Order of Malta. Hundreds of years later, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was returned to the Carmelite Order, to which it still belongs. The monumental facade of the church is decorated with a sculpture of the Virgin and Child, decorated with gilding. Inside the church there are two chapels: on the right is a figure of the Madonna of 1626, on the left - the chapel of the Holy Cross.
The main altar was built in 1716-1717. It is decorated with statues of Madonna and Saints Teresa, St. John, Elisha and Elijah, Joseph. The walls of the temple are painted with paintings by famous icon painters of the XXVII - XVIII centuries. On the right side of the church is the altar of the Child Jesus, where in a glass box is kept a wax figure of Christ, especially revered by the faithful.
At the top of the bell tower of the temple are three bells by ancient masters. The last of them was acquired by the Carmelites in 1718. Under the church is a tomb with the remains of more than two hundred Carmelites buried in the XVII - XVIII centuries. Among them are famous Spanish generals, secular ladies and children. Currently, the tomb is in poor condition due to flooding of the basement of the church with water. It is closed for visits and excursions.
In souvenir shops in Prague you can often find glass or porcelain figurines in magnificent royal robes - a copy of the statuette of the baby Jesus, kept in the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious on Carmelita Street. Thousands of believers come to the church with prayers and petitions to the Prague Jesuit, and he helps them. People believe that it brings them peace, health, the birth of children and happiness. As a token of gratitude for the help, many return to the temple with gifts and offerings.
During the communist regime, the authorities tried to stop worship, but the number of pilgrims from around the world still reached tens of thousands a year. Especially many pilgrims came from South America, where Catholics revere the Prague Jesuit.
The figure depicts a child - Jesus Christ, she is 47 cm tall, made of wood and covered with wax. The baby's right hand is stretched forward, as if blessing, and the left holds a ball with a cross. The statuette was made in the XVI century in Spain by an old monk. There is a legend that the baby Jesus himself appeared before him.
This figurine was received as a wedding gift from his mother, the Duchess of Spain Maria de Lara, who married the Czech diplomat Wratislav of Pernstein. She brought the statuette to the Czech Republic. Their daughter Polyxtena later donated a figure of Christ to the Church of Mary the Victorious.
During the Thirty Years' War, some churches in Prague were destroyed, but the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious survived, only the figures of Jesus had their hands damaged. They were rebuilt, and the Prague Jesuit took a place of honor at the altar.
Several times a year the nuns disguise the figure of Christ in elegant attire adorned with precious stones and gold. The color of dresses is selected depending on the season and church holidays. In total, Ezulatka has more than a hundred outfits, all of which were donated by grateful believers. The most valuable dresses were donated by Emperor Ferdinand III and embroidered by Maria Theresa. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI presented the Baby with a golden crown.
The Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious is open for visits daily. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims come to the church to admire the ancient architecture, rich decoration and worship the world-renowned Prague Jesuit.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
Comments (0)
leave a comment
Show other comments …
