Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Hrbokov, Catholic church in Hrbokov, Czech Republic.
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Hrbokov is a single-nave church of Gothic origin with Baroque and Empire elements, rebuilt in 1920 by builder Karel Netušil of Heřmanův Městec on the foundations of an earlier church, keeping the same style and dimensions. Its west facade carries a tower added in 1869–1874, and the interior is covered with mystical-religious frescoes painted in 1958–1962 by Vojmír Vokolek.
A legend dates the church's founding to the crusades at the end of the 12th century; written records appear in 1349–1351, when a parish existed at Hrbokov. After the Thirty Years' War the village held only two farmsteads and the church lost its liturgical furnishings, and during the 17th century the parish lapsed, making it a filial church of St Bartholomew in Heřmanův Městec. The old church was partly demolished in 1841–1846 and replaced by a new one built by Antonín Wambera of Heřmanův Městec for 2,900 gulden; after decay it was pulled down in 1920 and rebuilt on its foundations to the same design and dimensions by Karel Netušil.
The church is dedicated to Saint Wenceslaus, and local lore holds that it was founded during the crusades to the Holy Land at the end of the 12th century. Its present furnishings recall later gifts: a new bell and an altarpiece of Saint Wenceslaus were consecrated in 1855, and two bells, Saint Wenceslaus and Saint Mary, were acquired in 1927 before being seized in World War II.
The church stands in Hrbokov, part of the market town of Bojanov in the Chrudim district, and is a branch church of Saint Bartholomew's in Heřmanův Městec. It is a protected cultural monument, so visits are best arranged around services; the interior frescoes are the main thing to see.
The church's interior was decorated between 1958 and 1962 with mystical-religious frescoes of a modern character by the academic painter Vojmír Vokolek. Visitors often overlook that this village church holds a complete modern fresco cycle.
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