kostel svatého Gotharda (Modřice) Church

The church of St. Gothard in the town of Modrice in the district of Brno-venkov is one of the important buildings of the region. As a parish temple of the blue parish, it is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and still serves local believers and pilgrims.

The beginnings of the church extend deep in the past. The original building was located near the Blue Chateau and was built at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1222, the blue priest Wilhelm is first documented in the written sources, suggesting an already functioning parish organization. The archaeological traces of this Romanesque building - the remains of the masonry from its inception - survived until the 20th century. During the repairs of the plaster of the current temple in the 1970s, these elements were descoberts, and in the crypt the likely foundations of the original tower were discovered.

Medieval history of the church is covered by references to renewal and sanctification. In 1341, the construction was allegedly reconsecrated. It was fatal in 1724 when the church was completely burned down. This disaster was followed by repairs, but a major change was brought about by the reconstruction in the second half of the 18th century. Between 1780 and 1784 the temple was transformed into its present appearance - the original tower was demolished, the ship expanded, a new presbytery was created and a new tower was built on the east side of the building. In this way the church gained the present Baroque form with elements of Classicism.

The interior of the temple dedicated to visitors rich art collections. The dominant is the painting of St. Gothard hanging above the altar. In addition to the paintings, there are two large ceiling paintings in the temple, a gothic woodcarving depicting Maria with a child and a plastic group of statues symbolizing the Olivet Mountain. A valuable element of the interior is the statue of Pieta, which has become the object of a special godliness.

The church has always been a living space of faith and pilgrimage. Until 1880 the cemetery spread around the building, which later disappeared. The spiritual essence of the temple is its connection to the gardening guild that its members chose as patron. To this day, believers and pilgrims gather here on a traditional pilgrimage. Every Saturday around St. Gothard's Day, on May 5th, pilgrimage services are held here. This custom, which goes deep into the past, makes the church a place of lasting connection between tradition and the present.