- County: Prague 2
- District: Nowy Place
- Address: Vyšehradská 49/320, Praha 2
- Contact phone: +420 224 91 76 62
- Website: emauzy.cz
Proudly soaring up the sharp spiers of the Emmaus Monastery in Prague look unusually and for a long time are remembered for the guests of the capital of the Czech Republic . This architectural find in the form of crossing wings was introduced after the Second World War and still attracts a large number of lovers of antiquity and architectural masterpieces.
Name
One of their frequent questions about the Emmaus Monastery - as it was originally called. The monastery on the Slovaks - that is how the first name sounds. The modern one is explained by excerpts from the Bible, which speak about the meeting of Jesus with the disciples on the way to Emmaus.
History of the Emmaus Monastery
The history of the monastery dates back to the middle of the 14th century. By the decree of Charles IV the Benedictine monastery was founded. Divine services in it differed from traditional services according to the canons of the Czech Catholic Church. In the newly created monastery the first to grant Croatian monks. So the life of the monastery began. Service went on in the Old Slavonic language, the culture and writing of the Slavic peoples developed. All this was rather paradoxical, especially when you consider that in those days the Czech Republic was influenced by the western church.
On Easter 1372, the monastery was consecrated by the Prague Archbishop Jan Ochko of Vlashimi. The church was dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, St. Jerome, preachers and teachers of the written language of Cyril and Methodius, as well as local saints Wojtech and Prokop.
In February 1945, during the bombing of the US troops, the Emmausa monastery complex was badly damaged and was reconstructed only in the 1970s and 90s. The first stage of reconstruction was completed in 1995. After 8 years, the church was reconstructed and consecrated in the monastery complex.
Today there are 2 abbey monks living in the monastery, and the monastery belongs to the Order of the Benedictines. It hosts divine services, concerts of sacred music, excursions. Emmaus Monastery in our days can be visited by all comers.
What is interesting about the monastery?
Outwardly, the Emmaus Monastery does not look so majestic as many Catholic cathedrals. Sharp spiers in the Art Nouveau style, of course, are a memorable detail of the decor, but its main values are inside.
The monastery building is a three-nave church with a cloister surrounding the courtyard. In Emmaus you can see the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the refectory and the imperial chapel.
As the appearance of the monastery changed due to changes in the new rulers, in its design we can see features of the Gothic style, the Spanish Baroque and the Neo-Gothic. So, for example, the above-mentioned monastery's cloister belongs to the Gothic style, a covered gallery with wall images of scenes from the Old and New Testaments. A collection of 85 images, despite the fact that it was seriously damaged, is of great value. Nowhere in the world such an exposition of works of the Middle Ages is no more.
In the cloister of the Emmaus Monastery there is an exhibition of his photographs in various eras. Also inside the complex you can see frescoes, miniatures, mosaics and the ancient Rheims Gospel.
Cost of visit
Entrance to the Emmaus Monastery for adult visitors costs 50 CZK ($ 2.3). Preferential categories (children, students, pensioners and invalids) are provided with discounts, for them the ticket price will be 30 CZK ($ 1.4). Families with children can buy a single family ticket, the cost of which is 100 CZK ($ 4.6).
Working hours
From May to September, the Emmaus Monastery is open daily, except Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00. In April and October it works also from 11:00 to 17:00, but except Saturday and Sunday. From November to March, the schedule of work is reduced, and you can come to the monastery only on weekdays from 11:00 to 14:00.
How to get there?
In order to get to the Emmaus Monastery in Prague , you can use trams, buses or go by subway . If you decide to go by tram, choose routes Nos. 3, 6, 10, 16, 18, 24, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, the stop for the exit is called Moráň. Also to the monastery there is a bus number 291, you need to get off at the stop U Nemocnice.
From the Prague metro line, you can reach the station Karlovo náměstí, go out in any direction (to Karlova Square or Palacký square) and walk about 5-7 minutes to the monastery. The main entrance is from the side of Visegradskaya street.