Bethlehem Chapel: The original was demolished, today there are copies in Prague
In the 14th century, virtually the entire medieval world shook to its foundations. One of the basic pillars of the Christian world – the papal Holy See, faced an unprecedented problem, the so-called papal schism. Simply put, the church dignitaries elected two, later even three, popes, each of whom proclaimed his own faith, which had an impact on, among other things, confusing services in Prague.
Establishment of the Bethlehem Chapel
“At the age of 14 the service of God was not boundto which the sermon also belonged, neither for a time nor for a certain order, ”States the work Hus and Bethlehem: Memories of the former Bethlehem Chapel in the Old Town of Prague, written by historian Karel Vít Hof. “The priests taught the word of God right in that, right in that church and they were often prevented from doing so by other services. It was too abundantly preaching preacherswho (…) preached things true and unjust. ”The language of preaching was not uniform either.
For this reason, a certain Hanuš of Mühlheim, who enjoyed the favor of King Wenceslas IV, decided to build a new chapel that maintained a certain order. Her administrator had a duty to make sure he was here kazáno “Czech language, namely every Sunday and every holiday in the morning and afternoonafter the ringing, except in the time of Advent or Lent. ”The charter of the Bethlehem Chapel was written May 24, 1391 and the saint first about the “Chapel of the Cubs“Before the name Bethlehem Chapel was adopted.
On the stage of the rector of the University of Prague
The Bethlehem Chapel has been related to Charles University since its inception, from which Mühlheim, who was later buried in the chapel, exchanged always three masters of the eldest of Charles’s dormitory (…) suggested three people who would hold the most capable to the preaching office, ”Writes Hof. Among them, the most famous preacher was added without a doubt in 1402.
He was him John Hus, which later became i the administrator of the chapel. It is due to his sermons that the Bethlehem Chapel has so much famous throughout Prague, but not only throughout Europe. Hus, who was even rector of Charles University from 1409 to 1410, criticized the leaders of the Catholic Church and many of its scandals. The sale of indulgences and the papal schism were, among other things, one of them.
For this reason, Hus and the Bethlehem Chapel, which was attended by more and more people preaching in the Czech language – even Queen Sophia of Bavaria, became thorn in the eye of the pope and the Czech archbishop Zbyněk Zajíc of Hazmburk. “To make preaching in Bethlehem impossible, ordered by Pope John XXIII. among other things, that the chapel of Bethlehem be demolished and leveledso that heretics can no longer have their lair in it, “writes Hof. The chapel survived the turbulent century, Hus did not – he was burned at the stake in Constance on July 6, 1415 just for opinions on church reform. But even the chapel did not know who has a rosy future.
The art installation at the Bethlehem Chapel refers to the attitude of Jan Hus. He was burned because of his convictions.
Author: David Malík
Comparison with the country
During the late Middle Ages and later in the modern age, during the reign of the Habsburgs, the chapel served its purpose. They were even buried here important Prague citizens. Karel Vít Hof mentions, for example, “a kind of Peter, doctor of medicine, “ or “Hortensia, a native of Prague, Rector at the Universities of Prague and Excellent Mathematics. ”For a time, the administration of the chapel was taken care of by the Unity of Brethren, later by the Society of Jesus.
Clouds were already gathering over the chapel. Even though it functioned as in the 18th century side church to the church of St. Jiljí in Jilská street. Its importance slowly waned, and when the construction of new buildings was to take place in the locality, which The Bethlehem Chapel prevented the decision to demolish it was suddenly on the table. At first, the part of the wall that was slightly interfering with the street was demolishedwhich “was so narrow that two opposing cars had to be stuck.”
In 1785 the chapel was locked. Then it was “the result of a court decree of June 22, 1786 consecrated and demolished, – the place was used for the construction court until it was finally given to private individuals, “says Hof. This happened during the reign of Emperor Joseph II, who, as part of his Reformation policy, abolished monasteries and other church buildings that did not pursue “useful” purposes.
The remains almost served as paving
The devastation of the chapel was complete – only they survived the remains of some perimeter walls and the well that was part of it. Ancient artistic monuments were sold out and even Prague threatened to pave its streets with fragments of marble tombstones in the chapel. “Some of them were preserved this time by the lord of Veltrusy, Count Chotek, by purchase before certain destruction,” writes Hof.
Revival during the communist era
But how is it possible that the Bethlehem Chapel is standing again? It is practically its modern reconstruction. Leaving aside the religious motives, the Czech communists professed the Hussites as the ideological forerunner of communism.
In the 1840s and 1850s, the account began to go large Hussite novels by Alois Jiráseka magnificent film was also made Hussite trilogy under the baton of director Otakar Vávra. And the Bethlehem Chapel was also restored. Due to it, the houses from the 18th century, which were erected instead of the chapel, were demolished in the years 1950–1952, the Bethlehem Chapel was rebuilt. It’s just not exactly that anymore, under his roof Hus preached so fervently …
The art installation at the Bethlehem Chapel refers to the attitude of Jan Hus. He was burned because of his convictions.
Author: David Malík