Betlémská kaple Chapel

Betlémská kaple stands on Bethlehem Square in Old Town, Prague, dedicated to the memory of Bethlehem babies. Established in 1391 as a place for sermon in Czech, it is deeply linked to Jan Hus and the Czech Reformation Movement.

The chapel was founded by the charter of 24 May 1391 by Hanuš from Mühlheim and Jan Kříjej. The construction lasted from 1391 to 1394. The building was designed originally - it was designed exclusively for sermon in mother tongue, in Czech. Unlike the common chapel, she lacked a presbytery, because it was not built to celebrate the Eucharist. During time, however, it also started to be used for mass, "under both ways." This proves a niche which most likely acted as a sanctuary.

The name of Jan Husa, who became its administrator on 14 March 1402, has been inseparably associated with the chapel and has been preaching since then. In 1412, during the storm against indulgences, three of Hus's followers - Martin, John and Stasek - were buried in the chapel as martyrs, who were executed for verbal resistance to the report of indulgences. We date the last of Hus' sermons in Bethlehem until February 1413. It is particularly remarkable that Hus was also rector of Prague University in 1409-1410, which gradually combined the band with academic life. His sermon was also attended by Queen Sophie of Bavaria, the second wife of Václav IV.

In the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, the chapel served as a common parish church. Jan Hus' legacy was constantly mentioned here. In 1521, reformer Tomáš Muntzer preached here. In 1548, the chapel was redesigned "for the honor and praise of God and the famous memory of Master Jan Hus." In this epoch, a number of important Prague townspeople were also buried here.

After the State of Rudolf II, the Brotherly Unity took over. In 1622, Ferdinand II gave it to the Jesuits. The Jesuit Seminar of St. Wenceslas was gradually formed here. After the abolition of the Jesuit Order in 1773, the chapel served as a filial church. In 1786 it was mostly demolished because of its ill condition; The only thing left is a torsion of the perimeter walls. The next few years, the plot served as a wood warehouse. In 1836-1837 a three-storey apartment building was built here; Old masonry was used by the construction.

The chapel resurfaced in 1915, commemorating the 500 anniversary of Hus' death. The historian and architect Alois Kubíček discovered the remains of the gothic window here. After February 1948, the State's management decided to renew the chapel on Zdeněk Nejedlý's initiative. Architect Jaroslav Fragner designed reconstruction in the first half of the 1950s using all preserved parts.

Today's Betlémská kaple serves as an auditorium of Czech Technical University and other Prague universities. It became a living witness to the Czech Reformation Movement and the legacy of Jan Hus.