klášter milosrdných bratří (Štýřice) Monastery

Welcome to the monastery complex in Styřice. Right now, when you're standing here listening, you're in a place that's much more than just a set of walls and roofs. Before your eyes, there is a space that is living witness to centuries of human compassion, deep faith and dramatic political upheaval. Feel the atmosphere of peace and dignity that exists here, and look at these buildings as a whole, designed to serve human suffering and offer hope. This complex, made up of a monastery, the church of St. Leopold and the adjoining hospital, creates a harmonious environment that will now invite you to travel through time.

To understand why this place looks the way you see it, we have to go back deep into the past, namely, 1747. At that time, care for the poor and the sick was not commonplace, but required great will and unwavering generosity. It was at that time that this monastery and hospital was founded thanks to the initiative and significant financial support of Jan Leopold of Ditrichstein. He was a man who, at a time when social care was based, understood that society needed a place to combine spiritual support with practical medical assistance. Thus the Hospital Order of St. John came from God, who became his seat. His mission was mercy, which is a word you should keep in mind when you look at these walls. This whole project was not just about building walls, but about creating a safe haven for those who had no one else.

Now pay attention to the architecture that now surrounds you. This whole complex is an excellent example of the baroque style that dominates this place. Baroque architecture isn't just about decorating, it's about feeling monumental, about certain rhythm, and trying to create a space that looks noble. Feel how individual buildings complement each other and communicate. The church of St. Leopold, which is an integral part of the complex, represents its spiritual centre, while the monastery and hospital buildings form a practical background for the life of order and for patients. Although individual parts may seem massive, their forming and rhythm of facades create a sense of stability and security. Focus on how these different functions - prayer, life of monks and care for the sick - connect to one architectural unit that acts as one organism. The Baroque style here creates a framework that gives everything around clear order and meaning.

But as time revolves, people's needs are constantly changing. Although the foundation was laid in the mid-eighteenth century, the site had to gradually respond to new challenges and growing demands for quality care. Let us now look at another important epoch in the history of this place. In the 1930s, there was a significant modernization when a new hospital building was built. This change was necessary so that patient care could be in line with the growing demands of the time and that it could fulfil its role more effectively. This step shows that this monastery has never been just a static monument to the past, but a dynamic place that has constantly sought to improve its services to humanity.

But history also has its shady and painful aspects that you should not overlook. Imagine the moment when this long-standing order and its traditions suddenly stopped. In 1989, at a time of great political change and the advent of the Communist regime, an event took place that shook the very essence of this place. The state confiscated the monastery and hospital buildings. This event was not just about taking over property, it was a deep blow to a tradition that lasted at this place for more than two centuries. The continuity of care was interrupted, the continuity of prayer was interrupted and the continuity of life that has been going on here continuously since 1747. A place to be a symbol of mercy became part of the state apparatus and its original spirit was suppressed.

Although it seemed at that time that the era of the merciful brothers in this place ended forever, history resulted in an unexpected and joyous twist. After the fall of the regime and subsequent political transformations, the effort to rectify and restore justice was lost. And so something fundamental happened in 1997 - the monastery and the hospital were successfully returned to the order of merciful brothers. This moment was like a return to the soul of this place. A tradition that was violently interrupted could redevelop and continue what was started hundreds of years ago. Today we see the result of this effort: the monastery is once again actively used by the order for its original mission, while the hospital part, even though it is now rented, is still in charge of people.

You're standing in front of a place that could outlast a storm of time, political upheaval, and uncertainty, and return to its roots. It's a place where history meets the presence of every stone block and every space you're going through. It is a symbol of endurance and humanity that will not be broken. But now we invite you to continue your search. Explore the surroundings, perceive the peace and quiet that exists here, and try to imagine the hundreds of years of life that have taken place here, from the first stones laid by Jan Leopard of Ditrichstein to this day. Thank you for spending this moment with us and for choosing to recognize this historic space. We wish you a pleasant journey.