“So, who remembers the Battle of White Mountain?” We stand here in Alej českých exulantů, a quiet street in Prague’s 6th District. This is the spot where a Conciliation Cross stands, a silent witness to the turbulent past of this city. This isn’t just any ordinary cross – it’s a symbol of reconciliation, a reminder of past strife. Back in 1620, the Battle of White Mountain resulted in the almost complete eradication of Protestantism in Bohemia. This was a pivotal moment in history; the victory of Catholic forces led by Archduke Ferdinand marked the end of an era and the beginning of the Counter-Reformation. After the battle, this cross was erected as a marker of peace and reconciliation.
But there’s a twist. The cross was made by a monk – a Benedictine monk named Abraham Fischer – from Kőnigsmünster Abbey in Germany. Fischer was quite the skilled craftsman, and he and his fellow brothers installed it with their own hands. Why would a German monk be involved in a Czech reconciliation? You see, this cross wasn’t just about the battle, it was also a symbol of forgiveness. The cross reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for reconciliation. That’s the message we want to take away from this Kříž smíření, the Conciliation Cross, a monument to peace etched in stone.