The Revitalization of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Konojedy u Úštěku
The 14 month long project „Revitalization of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Konojedy“,
financed by the EEA and Norway Grants 2009–2014 was completed in August 2016. Thanks to this project a church was
saved, which everybody thought was doomed to slowly becoming a ruin. This project included the structural renovation of
the whole building, its interior and exterior, and large amounts of specialized restoration work. The church will be
open to the public during cultural events, concerts or exhibitions. You can see how the project progressed below in the
section Revitalization – Church Konojedy – News
The baroque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands on a rocky knoll in the village of Konojedy, about six kilometers away from the town of Úštěk. It is part of the former Servite Convent. The adjacent monastery is the most prominent of the five Servite monasteries in Bohemia (for more about Servite Order see servite-order.pdf ). The church, together with the former convent, is of substantial cultural and historical significance.
The church and the Servite monastery were founded by Francis Charles Swéerts-Sporck and his wife Anne Catherine. Anne Catherine was the daughter of F.A. Sprock the renowned founder of the complex in Kuks. The monastery was founded in gratitude for the triple healing of their only child after the application of a scapular with relics of the founders of the Servite Order.
The establishment of the church was approved in Vienna in 1746 and in the following year the cornerstone was laid. In 1786 the church was ordained by bishop Waldstein of Litoměřice. After the dissolution of the Servite Order in 1786, it functioned as a parish church and later fell into private ownership.
The late baroque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built on the site of an older early baroque church (only its crypt was incorporated into the new structure). The construction took place from 1748 to 1752. Although it was ordained in 1762, furnishing of the interior and other minor works continued. The original master builder was Wenzl Hebeck of Lysá nad Labem, but the construction was later overseen by Anton Miller.
From 1912 to 1914 the church underwent a major reconstruction of both the exterior – restoring the roof and facade – and interior – repairing cracks in the vault, re-tiling the floor and repainting. In 1915 many of the altar paintings were restored. In 1945 the church was damaged by blasts in a nearby quarry; in the second half of the twentieth century the grounds were used by the army and gradually fell into disrepair. In the 1980s the church was gradually vacated and repeatedly burgled.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is an impressive single-nave structure with a tower behind the orthogonal presbyterium and the sacristy and oratory attached on the north side. The west-facing front facade is rather terse, standing on a tall supporting wall divided by groups of pilasters which also line the corners. Its dominant feature is the tall semicircular window, complemented on either side by vaulted alcoves for statues. Finally, the front face is topped off with a triangular gable with volute wings and a metal carving of God´s eye embedded in the gable´s apex. The side facades are rhythmically divided by tall arched windows and pilasters.
The church´s single-nave interior features chapels between the retracted pillars on the flanks. Above a vault on the western side stands the organ matremonium (the organ itself did not survive), while on the east side a tall triumphal arch transitions the main vault into an orthogonal choir with a two-story triforium. The nave is spanned by several segments of barrel vaults, separated by wide bands.
Up until the 1970s, the church was very lavishly furnished. The richly embellished altars were built with marble imported from Italy and Austria and were adorned with many statues. Prague sculptor I. F. Platzer and Liberec painter F. Leibner both contributed greatly to the decór. The sad torsos of the main and auxiliary altars, remnants of the pulpit and a handful of benches were all that remained of its former beauty.
Later the church was structurally unsound, the inner and outer facades were in critical condition and the interior
had been severely devastated and looted.
A turning point for the state of the church was the beginning of the year 2015, when our Society for the Restoration of
Monuments in the Úštěk Region managed to obtain a grant from the Norway Grants for the complete revitalization of the
church, including the refurbishment of the surviving furniture. The church´s structural integrity was restored, new
façades were made and new windows installed. The interior was completely renovated as well: the interior was
replastered, the stucco decorations were renewed, the marble parts of all the altars were cleaned and completed, the
furniture was refurbished in restorers´ workshops (church pews, doors, parquets), and new lighting was installed. The
altar picture of the main altar was restored to its rightful place. The return of additional surviving furniture is
being negotiated.
In the future the church will serve for staging various cultural events.
the_revitalization_of_the_church_of_the_assumption-of_the_virgin_mary_in_konojedy.pdf
Aktuality
Celebration to mark project completion
29. 09. 16After a fourteen-month renovation marathon, all construction came to an end and the church finally showed its original beauty. The noise and chaos of construction was replaced by music. A concert to celebrate completion of the project took place September 24 at 4 p.m. The Piccolo coro choir and the Piccola orchestra led by Marek Valášek played music from several periods, including orchestral as well as vocal compositions. Guests and audience filled up the nave, the oratory and the choir.
Before the concert, an official event celebrated the completion of the revitalization of the Church of the Assumption
of the Virgin Mary. Tomáš Hlaváček, chairman of the Society for the Restoration of Monuments in the Úštěk Region
and the main initiator of the project, delivered the welcome speech. Other speakers included Oldřich Bubeníček,
Governer of the Ústí Region, and Frank Arne Johansen, Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, who said he was happy that
support went to such a successful and beautiful project. PhDr. Petr Hrubý, director of the regional office of the
National Heritage Institute in Ústí nad Labem outlined the challenges and achievements of the restoration project from
the heritage point of view. Guests also heard from Mgr. Tereza Vavrečková, deputy director of the International
Relations Dept., Czech Ministry of Finance, and our partner in Norway, Mr. Jiří Havran. Doc. PhDr. Michaela Hrubá,
Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University that partnered with the project mentioned
mutual benefits of this partnership. J. M. can. Jiří Hladík O.Cr., provost of the St. Stephen canonry in Litoměřice
discussed spiritual aspects of the project. The final speech was delivered by Mr. Vladimír Přibyl, owner of the
Konojedy castle and church, who was the key person in the entire project. Mr. Přibyl also gave his reply to frequent
questions about his motivation to engage in such a demanding project. His motto is to feel good about doing good things.
The event was very joyful and contained promising notes about the possible return and restoration of the original church
furnishings, most of which have been preserved. A new challenge for the future!
The newspapers Krajské listy and Litoměřicko 24 published the following about us:
26. 09. 16The celebration to mark the completion of the project to revitalize the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary took place on Saturday in the renovated space of the church. Among the participants were Oldřich Bubeníček, the Governor of the Ústí nad Labem Region; the Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy; the Sweerts-Sporck family, the descendants of the founders of the church and the adjacent monastery; and a number of other important foreign and domestic partners.
Under the leadership of the Society for the Restoration of Monuments in the Úštěk Region, represented by its chairman Mr. Tomáš Hlaváček, and with the help of the owner of the church, Vladimír Přibyl, and significant grant money from the Norway Funds, the Baroque monument was restored and made accessible to the wider public in just 14 months.
“The Ústí nad Labem Region has supported and continues to support the reconstruction of a number of historical buildings within our region,” stated Mr. Bubeníček. He added that the restoration of monuments helps to return the region to its original identity and, in particular, to show its beauty to current and future visitors
“We are very thankful to our Norwegian friends for their assistance,” added Mr. Bubeníček. As Frank Arne Johansen, Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, noted, the project to revitalize the church in Konojedy is a practical demonstration of solidarity between two European countries.
Mr. Johansen stated that “the project is not only a renewal of Czech history but of our European history. We are glad that we were able to participate in the project and that the monument will serve coming generations.” Others praising the project included Michaela Hrubá, dean at the Philosophical Faculty of the J.E. Purkyně University, Jiří Hladík, provost of the chapter at St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Litoměřice, and many others.
František Karel Sweerts-Sporck and his wife Anna Kateřina had the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary built
in Konojedy to give thanks for their son’s return to health. They also founded the Servite monastery on the grounds
of the adjacent castle. The monastery, however, only existed for a short while, because Joseph II closed it down. The
church was in a devastated condition by the 1980s, and from then on it was gradually vacated and repeatedly burglarized.
Its owner is currently working with other interested parties to preserve the church and the adjacent castle.
Turistickélisty.cz was informed by Ing. Marie Logrová, Ústí nad Labem Regional Athority.
(lh, turistickelisty.cz, photo Ústí nad Labem Region)
http://www.krajskelisty.cz/…t-mesicu.htm
Concert to celebrate completion of the revitalization project of the Church of the Assumption of Vir
24. 09. 16We would like to invite you to a concert to celebrate the completion of the revitalization of the Church of the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Konojedy u Úštěku, that will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 4 p.m.
at the church. The Piccolo coro choir and the Piccola orchestra led by the conductor Marek Valášek will perform music
by M. Praetorius, W. A. Mozart, J. S. Bach, B. Martinů, P. I. Tchaikovsky, A. Pärt, and G. F. Händel.
And we’re done…
31. 08. 16The last month was really busy but everything worked out in the end. Metal railing was installed on the staircase.
All the restored doors are in place, including wonderful metal fittings. All the church pews now invite churchgoers to
sit down. The stone paving in the nave and the marble paving in the chancel are now finished. All restoration works
involving the main altar have been completed, the marble now displaying its beautiful original color, and the only
surviving statue – God the Father – has been cleaned. There are gilded capitals again as well as the altar
picture. The church now has brand new lighting: four new crystal chandeliers, wall-mounted candlesticks and new lights
in the church area. The sacristy and the oratory have been furnished with new crystal pendant chandeliers. The south
facade is completely repaired and structurally secured, and the adjacent slope has been landscaped.
On the home stretch...
15. 07. 16We have exactly a month left to complete the construction and restoration work! Restoration work on the main altar
and stone floors in the interior is being wrapped up and damaged stone crypt coverings have been repaired. The parquet
flooring in the oratory awaits its finishing coat. The painted crosses with wreaths on the pilasters in the
church’s nave have been renewed. Refurbished pews are gradually being returned to the interior and mounted to their
restored wooden bases. On the south façade only the final few square meters are still to be painted.
What is still ahead of us? Finishing up surface repairs on the stone floors, reviving electrical installations,
attaching the refurbished doors, mounting light fixtures and hanging four large crystal chandeliers created by Prousek
Exclusive Lighting LLC from Kamenický Šenov.
And then just the final cleanup…
Work on the south facade now in full swing
20. 06. 16Work on the south facade is going according to plan; a number of stucco decorations such as the cornices above
windows and chambranles have already been renewed. The laying of parquets in the oratory is nearing completion.
Restorers are still working on the main altar and finishing up the restoration of the pulpit.
Konojedy church welcomes four hundred visitors for Open Doors Day
12. 06. 16Over the course of the day around four hundred people visited the church. We thank everyone for the positive
reactions to the progress of the reconstruction and we look forward to seeing everyone again for the completion ceremony
on September 24th, 2016.
Open Doors Day at the Konojedy church
11. 06. 16Dear friends,
since last year, the project for the Revitalization of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Konojedy near
Úštěk has been underway, which is financed by the EEA and Norway Grants 2009 – 2014. Even before the completion
of the construction and restoration work we offer an opportunity to take a look at the interior in the process of
reconstruction on Saturday, June 11th, 2016 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm when the church will be exceptionally open to the
general public. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a guided look at the altar in the process of restoration, and
have access to the presbyterium, the oratory of the order and the connecting passageways of the church.
We look forward to meeting you!
Fellowship for the restoration of historical monuments in the Úštěk district.
Restoration of side altars complete
10. 06. 16The scaffolding has nearly disappeared from the interior, except on the main altar, where stonemasons are still
working. The side altars are now in their full glory, and the beautiful colors of the marble stand out thanks to the
work of restorers. In the church’s nave work is underway on restoration and replenishing of the stone tiles.
Intensive masonry work is being carried out on the south facade.
We started repairing the south facade
11. 05. 16Once the demanding preparatory work of structurally securing the south façade had been completed, we were able to
start repairing it. The scaffolding has now been built almost along the whole length of the façade and work on it is in
full swing.
In the interior we continue to dismount the scaffolding. The interior has been painted up to the height of the crown
molding. The stone masons continue to restore the marble parts of the side altars and have started repairing the main
altar. Wooden pilasters and other accessories have been dismantled from the main altar and moved to the restorers’
workshop. In the meantime the inlaid door from the sacristy has been restored to its original glory. Only the hardware
is now missing.
Vault of the church without scaffolding
15. 04. 16The vault of the church is completely renovated and the upper floors of the scaffolding are dismounted. The colors of
the interior were chosen on the basis of the research done by the Center for Documentation and Digitalization of the
Cultural Heritage at FF UJEP and after consultations with the preservationists.
The stucco decor is being restored to its original beauty
30. 03. 16We are descending from the heavenly heights… The vault of the church acquired its final form and so it was possible
to start dismounting the upper floors of the scaffolding. The detailed work on restoring the marble altars is
continuing. The renovation of the stucco ledges and volutes is in full swing. Crumbled parts of the stucco are being
filled in; the missing ones have to be modeled analogically. Some stucco elements had to be created on a tin bracing.
The carpenters put new oak stairs in the connecting part between the church and the castle. In the restorers’
workshops original cassette doors from the sacristy and wooden landings of the steps in front of the side altars are
being restored to their original beauty. Before spring began we cleared volunteer shrubs in the area in front of the
church. After many years it is now possible to see the group of statues in front of the church.
The stonemasons have started the restoration of marble altars
29. 02. 16The stonemasons finished restoring the stone elements of the church façade and are now working on the interior. They
started restoring marble sections of the side altars (different color marble was imported back then from Italy and
Austria). All the tiny cracks have to be filled in, thus unifying the surface, and painted with a protective sealer. It
is very delicate and detailed work. The floor boarding in the oratory is ready; the carpenters will lay the renovated
parquet floor on top of it.
The golden cross and the God´s eye returned to the west gable
15. 02. 16After necessary preparation work the stone balls with golden flames have been placed on the west gable. The
gold-plated God´s eye has been placed on the gable´s tympanum and the gold-plated cross on the tip of the gable.
The south and west naves got new stained glass windows. The workers have gradually put in hexagonal metal frames with
glass and step by step filled in the windows.
The restoration work on the wooden pedestals of the altars is in progress.
The structure of the arches continues to be secured and plaster is being restored
31. 01. 16Structural work on the arches is progressing. The system of arches is being gradually secured with the help of
connecting bars. All the cracked parts of the arches were supported and damaged sections taken apart and newly filled
in. The renovated arch system is being replastered and stucco decorations renovated. The ceiling of the oratory has been
replastered and stucco decorations on the window lintels redone.
Work has began on the renovation of the oratory floor. It will be prepared so that the renovated parquet floor can be
laid.
Structural works on church arches in full swing
15. 01. 16Work on the structure of the church nave and presbytery is progressing. Damaged vault bands are being supported,
wedged and re-plastered. The arches of the nave and presbytery are gradually being reinforced with the help of draw
rods, inserted into the arch masonry. Work on the renovation of the wooden panel parquets from the oratory and the panel
doors is continuing in the restorer workshop. In addition the last windows are being produced.
Stone and metal elements from the west façade have been renovated
21. 12. 15The stonemasons delivered replicas of stone balls, which will be placed on the gable of the west façade. The gold
plated cross, the copy of the God’s eye and the flames from stone balls have been restored and brought from the
restorer workshop. The originals have been preserved. Consultations with the preservationists about the colors of the
inner walls of the church are continuing.
God's eye to shine in gold
30. 11. 15Additional work needed to secure structural soundness was approved. Everyone got straight to work: the cracks were
wedged and filled in, the masonry was injected and walls were reinforced with special connecting rods. Work has also
begun on the western face. From its gable a metal carving of God´s eye will be lowered. Due to the bad condition of
the carving, the decision has been made to adorn the gable with a gold-plated replica; the original eye will be
preserved and eventually presented in the interior of the church. Scaffolding is being erected in the church´s main
nave as electrical work continues.
Roofs of the church and sacristy complete
30. 09. 15Work on the sacristy is in full swing; the roof has been completed and the underside of the ceiling in the attic has
been covered. Work on the church is also going well. Tiles on the roof of the church have been laid and work on the
northern facade is soon to be completed. Windows on the southern and eastern facades have been mounted, and an order for
the windows on the western side has been put in. Electrical work in the interior continues.
Work on the eastern facade nearing completion
15. 09. 15As work on the facades continues into September, preservationists have specified the colors of the
façade´s elements. Carpenters are finalizing the installation of ceiling beams above the sacristy, and roofers have
begun laying the tiles on the roof above the main vault. Stonemasons are finalizing the restoration of stone elements on
the church´s eastern facade, tower, oratory and sacristy. Preservationists have decided on the final patination of the
vases on the eastern facade. Replicas of missing window bars have been installed in the sacristy and oratory. The
clearing of rubble in the vicinity of the church is underway.
Work on the western portion of the church halted
02. 09. 15The extent of structural damage to the church, specifically cracks, became evident only after the scaffolding had
been assembled and rubble cleared from the attic space. Previous attempts to repair the cracks, which partially
concealed the structure´s true state, were discovered. The cracks proved to be wider and deeper than originally
thought. On the bases of these discoveries, structural engineer K. Duška was invited to the site. He immediately
prohibited any further work near the structurally unsound vaults and carried out a revision of the structural
assessment.
Sacristy facade complete
21. 08. 15Despite the tropical summer heat, it was possible to continue with work on the northern facades. Masonry work on
the sacristy has been completed and chambranles, cornices and stucco features have been renovated. By the end of August
the facade will be pained and scaffolding removed. Stonemasons have unified the color of stone features which will be
left exposed, and are restoring the portal of the sacristy. The National Heritage Institute has approved the form of the
missing flames on stone vases on the eastern and western attics of the church´s vault. The vaulted windows are being
secured. The sacristy´s truss has been repaired and laying of the roof has begun.
Facade color agreed upon
31. 07. 15Work on the church´s facade successfully continues. The church tower is surrounded by scaffolding, stonemasons
continue cleaning and restoring stones, and masons are also hard at work. In the interior, scaffolding has been erected
on the western end of the main vault and above the matremonium, making the vaults and windows accessible to closer
inspection for structural faults. The National Heritage Institute, represented by Dr. Vít Honys has decided to preserve
the remnants of the organ – parts of the air ducts, windbags and operating petals. These parts will be cleaned and
left in their current state. Hopefully one day even the organ will be returned to its place.
The color of the church´s facade has been decided upon – ocher and white are its new colors!
Restoration of wooden features commenced
23. 07. 15This week work on the restoration of wooden features began. The church´s pews, listed as a movable cultural
heritage asset, have been transported to the restoration workshop. The restorers documented and disassembled the wooden
landings in front of the altar; the surviving pieces will be restored and missing ones replaced by identical copies of
the originals. Ground level windows were taken apart, as were the jalousie windows from the church´s tower. They will
be repaired and missing pieces will be replaced.
Work on the sacristy´s facade continues, and work has commenced on the facade of the main vault. Carpenters are
repairing and filling in missing pieces of the truss above the oratory. Stone restoration is periodically consulted with
Dr. Hrubý of the National Heritage Institute in Ústí nad Labem.
Stonework and truss repairs underway
15. 07. 15Work on the roof of the oratory continues with repairs of the truss. The roofing tiles have been taken down and
will be used to replace damaged or missing tiles covering the main vault. The damaged truss above the oratory will be
repaired; new laths will be installed and covered with new roofing tiles. Stonemasons have begun cleansing stone
cornices, window jambs and the first of the stone vases on the church´s eastern face.
Electrification of the church has begun
10. 07. 15In the past days, work to renew power distribution was launched. Kilometers of new cable will be laid both on the
exterior of the building, and on the interior, beneath the plastering. Work on the facade continues on the eastern side
below the tower. Pews and surviving interior doors are ready to be transported to the restoration workshop.
Building work successfully in motion
30. 06. 15Immediately after the signing of the contract, the firm PAMA, spol. s.r.o launched construction work. More than
60 tons of rubble, which was disproportionately straining the church´s vault, has been cleared from the attic and
hauled away. The wooden spiral staircase leading to the attic has been repaired. Work to fix the truss and the interiors
of the sacristy and oratory have commenced, as have repairs of the facades of the sacristy and the corridor connecting
the church to the monastery.
Supplier of restoration work chosen
18. 06. 15Today a contract has been signed with PAMA, spol. s.r.o., Heřmanova 713/53a, Prague 7, which prevailed in the selection process. Work began immediately, as the deadline is April 15, 2016. We still have a lot of work ahead of us!
Internships launched with freshmen of the UJEP
15. 06. 15In the last week of June, students of the Philosophy Faculty of the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí
nad Labem, under the guidance of the Center for Documentation and Digitalization of Cultural Heritage, provided
historical analysis on the church´s truss, aiming to determine its stratigraphy and secondary features. They also took
detailed inventory of constructional, architectonic and epigraphic features relating to the development of the truss.
Participants in the course got the chance to take samples of wooden constructions for dendrochronological analysis
intended to determine the precise dates of the individual construction phases of the church.
The students also measured the church´s dimensions, and with the help of AutoCAD created models of the church from
various perspectives including floor plans and cross-sections.
The complete article is available here: http://ff.ujep.cz/
