Imagine stumbling upon a roadside shrine during a pilgrimage. This is Pakenská kaple. It stands as a testament to faith and history.
Pakenská kaple is more than just a chapel. It whispers tales of ancient routes and enduring beliefs. Let’s explore its story.
This chapel is one of the few remaining along the pilgrimage route from Prague to Stará Boleslav. Jan Jáchym Slavata a high court judge funded its construction. The chapel is named after the town of Nová Paka.
The pilgrimage route itself is steeped in history. It mirrors an old path used by Prince Václav in the 10th century. Václav traveled between Prague and the Přemyslid fort in Boleslav. He was murdered near the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in 935.
Later Jesuits established a Marian pilgrimage route in 1674 called Via Sancta. Wealthy families financed the construction of niche chapels along the route. The chapels served as stops for pilgrims.
Jan Tanner a Jesuit described the pilgrimage stops in his book The Holy Road from Prague to Stará Boleslav. He detailed the chapels and included engravings.
Pakenská kaple like the others had a specific design. Tuscan pilasters framed a niche topped with a triangular tympanum. Most had a circular window in the tympanum.
Inside each chapel frescoes adorned the rear wall. The upper part depicted Marian pilgrimage images. Below were scenes from the life of Saint Václav. Each chapel bore the name of a pilgrimage site. The name of the Madonna’s origin was written on a decorative ribbon. Prayers to the Madonna and descriptions of Saint Václav’s life were inscribed on the side walls.
The exterior of Pakenská kaple also featured decorations. The donor’s name was on the right side of the arch while their coat of arms was on the left. Bricks tufa and hewn sandstone were the main building materials.
Originally there were 44 such chapels spaced about 440 to 600 meters apart. They corresponded to invocations in the Loreto Litany. These chapels stretched 23 kilometers from Prague.
Pakenská kaple is a survivor. After World War II upkeep ceased and many chapels decayed. However Pakenská kaple retains remnants of its original frescoes.
In the 1990s and early 2000s Pakenská kaple underwent partial restoration. Today it stands near a cemetery in Vinoř.
The chapel invokes “Rosa mystica”. This is the only preserved original text. It refers to the invocation of the Mother of God as the “Mystical Rose”. The chapel also depicts the Mother of God. According to legend a miner found her statue in a mine in the 13th century. He initially placed it in a tree hollow before building the chapel.
Saint Václav is also depicted in the chapel. He refuses poisoned drink offered by his mother Princess Drahomíra. The chapel reminds us to avoid spiritual poison.
Pakenská kaple invites reflection. It stands as a testament to faith art and the enduring spirit of pilgrimage. As you continue your journey remember the stories etched in its stones.