Engulfed in Baroque splendor the Church of Saint Ursula stands as a beacon of history. Saint Ursula’s lemon-yellow walls and pink facade make it a unique landmark. Its baroque interior is home to a battalion of Apostle statues. A statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands out front. Look for a statue of St. Agatha in the facade’s lower-right niche. She is holding her severed breasts. It is one of the more gruesome images in Catholic hagiography.
The Church of Saint Ursula has a story as rich as its design. It was built between 1702 and 1704 by architect Marco Antonio Canevalle. The church stands on the site of old burgher houses. You can still see the original remains in the back of the church. A major reconstruction at the end of the 19th century restored interior and exterior details. One floor was added and the main facade was slightly changed.
Saint Ursula herself was a Romano-British virgin and martyr. She was possibly of royal origin. The name Ursula means little she-bear in Latin. She is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. Saint Ursula’s feast day is 21 October.
The legend of Saint Ursula tells of a princess from Dumnonia in Britain. Her father sent her to marry the pagan governor Conan Meriadoc of Armorica. She sailed with 11000 virginal handmaidens. A miraculous storm brought them to a Gaulish port in a single day. Ursula declared a pan-European pilgrimage before her marriage. She traveled to Rome with her followers. They persuaded Pope Cyriacus and Bishop Sulpicius of Ravenna to join them. Setting out for Cologne the virgins were beheaded in a massacre by Huns. The Huns’ leader fatally shot Saint Ursula with an arrow around AD 383.
The legend of Saint Ursula lacks historical credibility. Neither Jerome nor Gregory of Tours mentions her in their writings. The earliest evidence of a cult of martyred virgins at Cologne is an inscription from around 400 AD. It is in the Church of Saint Ursula in Cologne. The inscription states that the basilica was restored where holy virgins were killed. The earliest source to name one of these virgins as Ursula dates from the 10th century.
The Basilica of Saint Ursula in Cologne holds alleged relics of Ursula and her 11000 companions. The Golden Chamber contains sculptures of their heads and torsos. Some heads are encased in silver. Others are covered with gold and velvet. Loose bones texture the upper walls.
The Order of Ursulines founded in 1535 by Angela Merici is devoted to the education of young girls. They have helped spread Saint Ursula’s name throughout the world. Ursula is the patron saint of school girls.
The story of Saint Ursula is captured in art. Vittore Carpaccio created nine large wall-paintings about her life for the Scuola di Sant’Orsola in Venice. These paintings are now in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice.
Saint Ursula’s legacy extends far beyond Prague. Christopher Columbus named the Virgin Islands in her honor in 1493. The Convent of Saint Ursula continues to inspire. The story of Saint Ursula lives on. It is a story of faith and perseverance.