church of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist

The Church of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist is a Gothic monastery church in the heart of Brno, standing on Minoritská street. Locals know it simply as "kostel Svatých Janů" — the Church of the Holy Johns — and it has served as one of the old town's religious landmarks for nearly eight centuries.

How old is this church?

Construction is dated to 1251–1256, making it one of the oldest surviving sacred buildings in Brno. The structure's early history was far from peaceful: the church was damaged by fire twice, in 1262 and again in 1306, forcing repeated repairs to its medieval fabric over the following decades.

Where does its current Baroque look come from?

A thorough transformation reshaped the church in the 18th century. Baroque work began in 1722 with the reconstruction of the presbytery. Three years later, in 1725, the tower was brought to the form still visible today. The final stage came with the rebuilding of the nave and façade between 1729 and 1733. It is this sequence of Baroque interventions that gives the church the appearance recognized by visitors now, even though its origins reach back to the Middle Ages.

Why is the church named after two Johns?

The dedication joins two distinct biblical figures who share a name — St. John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ, and St. John the Evangelist, author of the fourth Gospel. This double dedication is the source of the popular nickname "kostel Svatých Janů," by which Brno residents commonly identify the building, often more readily than by its full formal title.

Where exactly does the church stand?

The building sits on Minoritská street, right in Brno's historic center, within the Brno-město administrative district. This places it among the dense, historic streetscape that surrounds the city's medieval core, close to other landmarks of the old town.

Which religious order did the church belong to?

The church was founded as a monastery church of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor (Minorites). Its origin with this mendicant order, known across medieval Europe for its vows of poverty and urban preaching, explains both its central location and the more restrained, functional character of its original Gothic structure before the later Baroque remodeling gave it a more ornamented form.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the Church of the Holy Johns in Brno? Construction dates to 1251–1256, meaning the building is nearly 800 years old.

Why is the church called "the Holy Johns"? Its dedication honors both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist together, which is why the popular nickname uses the plural.

Has the church kept its medieval appearance? Not entirely. After fires in 1262 and 1306 and a thorough Baroque reconstruction between 1722 and 1733 — covering the presbytery, tower, nave, and façade — the church's current form is largely Baroque.

Where in Brno is the church located? On Minoritská street, in the city's historic center, within the Brno-město district.

Which religious order was the church associated with? It was built as a monastery church for the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, known as the Minorites.