150 Houses of God to Open for Night of Churches (Portal of Prague)

This year’s Night of Churches, for which almost 150 churches will open on 27th May, promises a rich program. Visitors can look forward to guided tours of the parts of churches that people don’t usually see, tours of bell-towers and crypts, children’s events, creative competitions, Bible-readings, organ concerts and other musical events, visual performances, puppet shows, charity presentations, book-readings, night-time sermons and prayers.

For this year’s event the organisers have prepared special thematic tours. It is therefore possible to follow the footsteps of St. James (sv. Jakub) and visit churches dedicated to him. Anyone interested in Romanesque art can head for Romanesque churches. Churches opening for Night of Churches include e.g. the Church of St. Wenceslas (sv. Václav) in Stará Boleslav, the Rotunda of the Holy Cross (rotunda sv. Kříže) in the Old Town and the Church of St. John the Baptist (sv. Jana Křtitele) in Dolní Chabry. There are a total of seven thematic tours, others offer e.g. a tour of churches where we can find artistic works by the recently deceased sculptor Karel Stádník.

Night of Churches at St. Salvator

On the occasion of Night of Churches the Church of St. Salvator (kostel nejsvětějšího Salvátora) at Charles Bridge will be hosting a celebration entitled “Dance of Light” (Tanec světla) . Musical sparkle will be provided by Jiří Stivín a Robert Hugo, while Petr Nikl, Ondřej Eremiáš and other artists will work up a magical dance of lighting effects. The academic parish wants visitors to see the church in a rather different light than it is normally seen. The heart of the church will therefore be ablaze with three thousand candles in the old presbytery. The spring of light in the centre of the church will become the main dance floor. The evening begins at 8pm and goes on until midnight.

Archbishop Duka taking part

Which churches will be visited by the Archbishop of Prague is to be kept as a surprise. During last year’s Night of Churches Archbishop Duka managed to visit several churches in Prague. This year the event is taking place not only throughout the Czech Republic, but also in Austria and Slovakia. In all three countries the event shares not only the same principals, but also the same visual style. This is the work of Austrian graphic artist Vera Reider.

Smart map of churches

The program of Prague archdiocese’s Night of Churches is included in a newly published brochure which, along with a map, will assist in orientation during Night of Churches. The booklet, also giving a brief description of each church, transport details, GPS coordinates and other information, will be available in individual churches and also downloadable on the www.nockostelu.cz.website.

Public interest in last year’s Night of Churches exceeded all expectations, amounting to more than 250,000 visitors. A total of 418 churches opened in almost 200 towns and villages of the Czech Republic.

More information on this year’s event at www.nockostelu.cz (available only in Czech).