Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Roman Catholic parish church in Bratřejov, Czech Republic
The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius is a single-nave Neo-Gothic building with a pentagonal presbytery and a four-storey stone tower, 40.5 m tall, oriented with the altar to the east. Architect Michal Urbánek of Vsetín designed it; the facade keeps stepped buttresses, a tympanum inscribed "Pokoj vám!" with angel figures, and a zodiac relief above the tower windows. The interior retains its original furnishings and painted decoration.
Built between 1871 and 1890 in Neo-Gothic style, the church was initiated by Vizovice dean Jan Bartoš, who raised funds through letters to believers and firms; Emperor Franz Joseph I also contributed. The foundation stone was laid on 22 October 1871 and the church was consecrated on 22 October 1890 by Brno bishop František Saleský Bauer. Architect Michal Urbánek designed it, and 295,000 bricks were used.
The church is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the missionaries who brought Christianity to the Slavs. Its patronal feast is celebrated on 5 July, a public holiday in the Czech Republic. The first parish priest, Antonín Sopůch, is buried in the adjacent cemetery.
The church stands in a sacred complex with the parish house and adjacent cemetery; the first parish priest, Antonín Sopůch, is buried in that cemetery. The tower rises 40.5 m and the building is oriented with the altar to the east. The interior, including fittings and wall paintings, is preserved in its original state.
The church tower rises 40.5 metres, and its original roof covering was slate. The stone for the walls was hauled by workers from the Bratřejov hills called "Na lozách" and dressed by hand. The tower's paired arched windows are a Romanesque element in an otherwise Neo-Gothic building.
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