Chapel of the Holy Family (Praha)

The Chapel of the Holy Family is a modest Baroque chapel standing on Pod Nuselskými schody street in Prague's Vinohrady district, right on the edge of Nusle and close to the well-known Nuselské schody staircase. Set within a small park, the chapel has passed through more than two and a half centuries of change - from a private vineyard foundation, through decades of neglect, to its present role as a place of worship for Prague's Old Catholic community.

Who built the chapel, and why?

The chapel was erected in 1755 at the initiative of Karel Leopold Bepta, a Prague burgher and city councillor. It stood on the grounds of his vineyard estate, later known as Vondračka, and he endowed it with part of his fortune. Bepta intended the chapel for hermits of the Ivanite order, who were meant to care for it using his endowment. Local tradition also holds that Bepta had the chapel built partly for the benefit of workers on his estate, believing that attending services there would encourage better discipline among them.

What happened to the chapel after the 18th century?

The chapel's fortunes turned in 1782, when Emperor Joseph II dissolved the Ivanite order as part of his religious reforms. Left without its caretakers, the building functioned for decades as a modest, rarely visited place of worship. In 1892 it was formally attached to the parish of Michle, though in practice it remained abandoned. A partial restoration took place in 1908, but the chapel again fell into disrepair in the following decades, and at one point demolition was even considered. The turning point came in 1970, when the Prague congregation of the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic took the chapel under its care. Volunteers restored the building, and it has served liturgical purposes again ever since. The chapel has been listed as a protected cultural monument since 1958.

What does the chapel look like?

The building is small and compact, typical of private Baroque chapels of its era. It stands on a roughly square floor plan with an elongated rectangular chancel attached. Inside, the nave is covered by a flat vault, and its corners are chamfered, softening the interior space, while the chancel is covered by a barrel vault. Above the entrance portal sits a round rose window that lights the interior from the front. The whole structure is topped by a tent-shaped roof crowned with a small ridge turret, a sanctus bellcote typical of small chapels from this period. The 1908 restoration altered some architectural details, but the chapel's overall Baroque form has retained its original character.

Who owns the chapel today?

Since 1970 the chapel has belonged to the Prague parish of the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic, a community separated from Rome that nonetheless preserves a Catholic liturgical tradition. Services are held here regularly, usually on the first Thursday evening of each month, with occasional additional services of the word held on other Thursdays. The chapel therefore remains a living place of worship rather than simply a monument viewed from outside.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? On Pod Nuselskými schody street in Prague's Vinohrady district, close to the border with Nusle and near the Nuselské schody staircase.

Can visitors go inside? The chapel belongs to an active Old Catholic parish and is typically opened during services, mainly on the first Thursday of the month; access outside these times is limited.

How old is the chapel? It was built in 1755, making it nearly three centuries old.

Is it a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1958.

Which denomination uses it today? Since 1970 it has belonged to the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic.