Church of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk

The Church of Saint Zdislava stands right in the centre of the village of Lavičky, on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands a few kilometres from Velké Meziříčí. It is a small branch church of the Roman Catholic parish of Velké Meziříčí, notable for one striking fact: it is considered the first church in the world dedicated to Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, the Czech patroness of families and mothers.

Why was a church dedicated specifically to Zdislava?

Residents of Lavičky had discussed building a chapel or church as far back as around 1940, but the idea went nowhere for decades. The turning point came only at the start of the 1990s: on 22 March 1990 a building plot was finally chosen, and on that same day it was decided the new church would be dedicated to Zdislava of Lemberk. She was a medieval noblewoman remembered for caring for the sick and the poor — at the time only beatified, since her canonisation did not follow until 1995.

How was the building constructed?

The church is an entirely modern structure, built during the 1990s with a timber interior. Its defining feature is who built it: most of the work was carried out voluntarily by the villagers of Lavičky themselves, which kept the total cost of the project to just 1.25 million Czech crowns — a fraction of what a comparable building would have cost if built solely by outside contractors.

The finished building was consecrated on 26 May 1994 by auxiliary bishop Ambrož Svatoš. Because Zdislava was still only a beatified figure at that point, the church could not yet carry her full, formal dedication until after her canonisation in 1995.

What can visitors find inside?

The most valuable item inside is a reliquary holding relics of Saint Zdislava, donated in 1995 by Bishop Josef Koukal of Litoměřice. A year later, on 25 May 1996, Koukal returned to personally consecrate both the altar and the church itself under its definitive dedication to the newly canonised saint. That sequence of events made Lavičky one of the very first places tied to the public cult of Zdislava almost from the moment of her canonisation.

Who should visit the church in Lavičky?

The church appeals mainly to visitors interested in the history of Saint Zdislava's veneration, as well as travellers exploring the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands who enjoy small, off-the-beaten-path stops away from the main tourist routes. Since it sits in the centre of a small village, a visit is easy to combine with a walk around the area or a short trip toward Velké Meziříčí.

Frequently asked questions

Is this really the first church in the world dedicated to Saint Zdislava? According to available sources, yes — the church in Lavičky is cited as the world's first church built under this particular dedication, making it a special site for devotees of the saint.

When was the church built? Construction took place during the 1990s: the site was chosen in 1990, the building itself was consecrated in 1994, and the altar and church under their final dedication were consecrated in 1996.

Does the church hold relics of Saint Zdislava? Yes, it houses a reliquary containing her relics, donated in 1995 by Bishop Josef Koukal of Litoměřice.

Which parish does the church belong to? It is a branch church of the Roman Catholic parish of Velké Meziříčí.