Towering over us, svatý Prokop in Žižkov stands as a testament to faith and architectural ambition. Did you know that this impressive Neo-Gothic church wasn’t always the centerpiece of Žižkov?
Žižkov became a city in 1881. But it lacked a large Catholic church. An association formed in 1879 to address this need. They bought a dance hall in 1883. It became a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The chapel served the faithful for over 20 years. Even after svatý Prokop was built, the chapel remained open until 1919. Imagine thousands gathering in a converted dance hall. Their devotion fueled the desire for a grander church.
The foundation stone for svatý Prokop was laid on October 30, 1898. This day marked the 50th anniversary of Franz Joseph I’s reign. The church was initially known as the Jubilee Church. Construction took five years.
Cardinal Lev Skrbenský consecrated svatý Prokop on September 27, 1903. Archduke Karl Ferdinand and his wife attended. Mons. Eduard Šittler became the first parish priest.
Look at the church’s dimensions. It is over 51 meters long and 17 meters wide. It accommodates 2,000 people. The tower soars 73 meters high. Its steeple dominates the Žižkov skyline.
Notice the two entrances. The north entrance has a relief of the Madonna with Jesus. St. Procopius kneels presenting her with a model of the church. Josef Pekárek created this. The west entrance features a relief of St. Adalbert. Pekárek was a student of Josef Václav Myslbek.
Inside svatý Prokop, find Karel Škréta’s painting. It depicts St. Wenceslaus defending Prague against the Swedes in 1649. This painting originally belonged to the Emauzy monastery.
The main altar is Neo-Gothic. František Mikš designed it. Štěpán Zálešák sculpted St. Procopius surrounded by Saints Cyril and Methodius. Karel Ludvík Klusáček created eight panel paintings depicting scenes from St. Procopius’ life. The altar’s top shows the Crucifixion.
A side altar features a Madonna with Jesus statuette. It dates back to the 15th century. Saved during the Thirty Years’ War, it was hidden in a house until 1742. The chapel of Our Lady has panels with scenes from her life. The chapel of the Divine Heart of Our Lord displays images of St. Augustine and St. Alois. Zálešák also made these.
The Prince of Auersperg donated the Baroque Venice chandelier. Mikš designed the pulpit with granite stairs. Emanuel Peter’s Žižkov company made the organ.
The stained glass windows are based on Klusáček’s designs. The last window completed in 1992 shows Duke Oldřich meeting St. Procopius in the Sázava woods. Cyril Bouda originally designed it.
Between 1992 and 1997, the church was thoroughly restored. The district administration supported the effort. Svatý Prokop stands today as a symbol of Žižkov’s resilience and artistic spirit. It is a place where history, faith, and art converge.