Faith and churches were an important part of life in
Czechoslovakia. However, both parts of the republic were entering the new
state, which was founded just 100 years ago in the centre of Europe with
different presumptions.
Early Years of Czechoslovakia
Religious belief in Slovakia was an essential component of the national movement. However, in the Czech lands this was different which is reflected in particular in relation to the Catholic Church. It was often identified with the Habsburg monarchy, so its symbols were often being destroyed. The Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia was also weakened by the creation of a nationally-established Czechoslovak Church and the Hus's celebrations even deepened the discrepancy. The situation finally subsided, as evidenced by the treaty: modus vivendi with the Vatican and the nationwide congress of Catholics in 1935.
Church service of the Czechoslovak Church with all the essential attributes that characterize this Church.
Czechoslovak Church Member’s identity card (1920/1929)National Museum, Czech Republic
A card that served as an identification of members of the Czechoslovak Church (now the Czechoslovak Hussite Church).
Czechoslovak Church Priest's stole (vestment) (1920/1939)National Museum, Czech Republic
After its foundation, the Czechoslovak Church did not create a specific ceremonial clothing. It took over and used the original Catholic liturgical garment with a chalice symbol. Special clothing was created for the first patriarch and founder of the Church, Karel Farský.
The black tassel was open at the top so that civilian clothing could be seen beneath it. It symbolized the dignity of the priestly service and, at the same time, the belonging to the members of the Church. The presented stole clearly symbolizes the connection of the Czechoslovak Church and the New State.
The the Virgin Mary's head from the put down Marian Column located in the Old Town Square, 1650, Jan Jiří Bendl (asi 1610–1680) (1650/1652) by Jan Jiří BendlNational Museum, Czech Republic
The oldest Marian column in Bohemia was built in the years 1650 - 1652 at the Old Town Square in Prague following the design of the sculptor Jan Jiří Bendl. After the establishment of the Czechoslovak state, on November 3, 1918, at the end of the socialist camp, it was taken down because it was seen as a symbol of Habsburg supremacy over Bohemia.
Its further demolition by the socialists and the anarchists was prevented by Prague inhabitants and summoned troops. Fragments of the sculpture of the figure of fighting angels and fragments of the Virgin Mary torso were partially preserved in a building close to the Old Town Hall and were later deposited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum.
Photo of Marian Column put down after (1918)National Museum, Czech Republic
Photo of the Marian column on the Old Town Square in Prague, which was pulled down by the crowd on 3 November 1918, shortly after the formation of Czechoslovakia, as a symbol of the Habsburg monarchy oppressing Bohemia.
Poster of the Crematorium Society (1927)National Museum, Czech Republic
In the Czech lands, cremation was a favourite type of funeral. This is an evidence that there was a strong process of atheism in progress in the Czech lands.
St. Wenceslas ducats issued in 1923 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the 1st Czechoslovak Republic, followed the tradition of gold coinage minting on our territory. The Czechoslovak ducats minted in Kremnica according to the winning design of Jaroslav Benda and Otakar Španiel were investment coins with high content of precious metal.
The first 1000 minted ducats were given serial numbers on the occasion of their special edition, and were handed over to the then prominent personalities headed by President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Ducat No. 1 was subsequently given by the President to the collections of the National Museum.
The medal was created for the 1000th anniversary of the death of St. Wenceslas.
The back side of the medal depicts the event of opening St. Vitus cathedral at the Prague Castle castle in 1929.
Painting Leaving the church (1932) by Jan HálaSlovak National Museum
Originally Czech designer Jan Hála (1890 - 1959), devoted himself to ethnography and documentary. He also wrote essays to the Czech newspaper Lidové noviny.
Painting Leaving the church (1932) by Jan HálaNational Museum, Czech Republic
As an artist, Hála focused mainly on the documentation of the impressive landscape of Važec and Slovak folklore. He recorded it by traditional artistic means. He devoted himself to illustration, he is one of the founders of modern Slovak art of illustration for children and youth.
The genre composition depicts a group of women in Važec folk costumes who are leaving the village church. In Hála's painting manifestation, characterized by the use of varied colours, elements of stylized Art Nouveau decorativism can be found, which were typical for his work in the early 1930s.
Photo of the journey to the church (1930/1939) by Karol PlickaSlovak National Museum
Karel Plicka (1894 - 1987) was a prominent Slovak and Czech artist, photographer, documentary, collector, choreographer, writer, filmmaker and pedagogue. He was particularly interested in Czech folklore and traditional folk art. From 1924 to 1938, he worked in Slovak Matice in Martin as a music scientist, photographer and filmmaker. In 1938 he founded the Department of Cinematography, the first film school in Czechoslovakia, in the School of Art Crafts in Bratislava.
Portrait of Andrej Hlinka, an important Slovak priest and politician, the chairman of Hlinka's Slovak People's Party.
The caricature of the long-time chairman of the Czechoslovak People's Party, the most important Czech Catholic party.
War and Postwar Period
During the years 1939-1945, the paths of Czech and Slovak believers and churches were separated. The political events of the late 1930s created the Slovak State, where the Catholic Church participated in state power. In the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia it was persecuted and became one of the centres of resistance. After 1945, the churches and believers had to undergo a series of difficult tests: the rehabilitation of the Catholic Church in Slovakia, the abolition of the Church orders and monasteries of 1950, the confiscation of property and the status of the churches under the state supervision, the persecution of the clergy, the abolition of the Greek Catholic Church, etc. Faith was pushed into privacy.
Meeting of the president of the Slovak Republic Jozef Tiso and Adolf Hitler.
Saint Florian (1900)Slovak National Museum
In the 1950s some of the churches and monasteries were plundered by the Communist State Security, their mobiliary being stolen or destroyed.
Two of the most important Roman Catholic priests in Czechoslovakia who were persecuted by communist power in the 1950s.
The Second Half of the Century
Communist Czechoslovakia once again tried to dominate the Church. The Peace Movement of the Catholic clergy had to retreat to the regime-supportive clergy alliance of Pacem in Terris. At the same time, different development in the Czech lands and in Slovakia begins to manifest. While a significant secularization of the society and demolition of churches occurs in Bohemia, the situation in Slovakia is different. Faith and churches maintain a strong position in the society; Catholic dissent and the underground church become predominant form of resistance to the system. After 1989, both nations were united by the visit of the Pope John Paul II.
Photo Pilgrimage to Velehrad basilica (1985)National Museum, Czech Republic
The pilgrimage to Velehrad in 1985 was one of the most significant protests of believers in Czechoslovakia against the Communist regime. It was held on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of St. Methods death and the Velehrad Basilica was awarded the Golden Rose Award by the Pope John Paul II.
Golden rose - honor by John Paul II to the basilica in Velehrad (1985-06-28)National Museum, Czech Republic
The Golden Rose from Velehrad is historically awarded by the Pope as a special distinction for personalities, temples, cities, or governments for their Catholic character and loyalty to the Holy See.
In the Czech Republic, only two locations hold this award - the Cathedral of St. Vitus at the Prague Castle and the Velehrad Basilica.
Plate with portrait of Pope John Paul II.National Museum, Czech Republic
Pope John Paul II awarded the Golden Rose to the Velehrad Basilica on June 28, 1985 on the occasion of the pilgrimage at the 1100th anniversary of the death of St. Methodius.
Marek Junek, Národní muzeum
