Before us stands Kaple sv. Isidora a simple church with a rich story. Kaple sv. Isidora in Nové Strašecí dates back to 1711. It stands near the edge of a small park on Československé armády street.
Kaple sv. Isidora is dedicated to Saint Isidore. He is a beloved patron saint of farmers. Originally, a valuable wooden statue of the saint stood where the altar is now.
Picture this a time when the chapel served a different purpose. Emperor Joseph II ordered it closed in 1783 during his church reforms. But the story of Kaple sv. Isidora doesn’t end there.
In 1830, Kaple sv. Isidora was re-consecrated. It became a cemetery chapel when a new town cemetery was established around it. This cemetery served the community until 1912. Then it was moved to a new location because it was too small.
Look closely at the architecture of Kaple sv. Isidora. It is a simple building with a rectangular shape. The presbytery has three sides. Above it is a relatively tall, slender tower.
Imagine the chapel in the 1980s. Sadly, it was damaged. Vandals broke down the doors. They stole or destroyed three wooden statues. The altar was torn down. A hole was made in the ceiling for smoke from fires.
But Kaple sv. Isidora was not forgotten. In 2000, it underwent a major renovation. Two original arched windows were uncovered and glazed. The vault was repaired. The roof was covered with copper. The railing in front was fixed.
On August 27, 2000, Bishop Dominik Duka re-consecrated Kaple sv. Isidora. Since 2002, the tradition of pilgrimage masses has been revived. These masses take place on the Sunday before or after Saint Isidore’s feast day on May 10.
Kaple sv. Isidora stands in a field outside town. Unfortunately, it is often vandalized. For this reason, the chapel has no interior decorations.
Let’s appreciate the history of Kaple sv. Isidora a place of faith and resilience. It has survived closures, desecration, and rebirth. Today, it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the community.