Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (Žeravice)

The Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is a Baroque parish church in Žeravice, a village in the South Moravian Region, in the Hodonín district, roughly 8 km east of Kyjov. It stands in the northern part of the village, next to the main road, facing a former manor house that today serves as a school, and is surrounded by a small park.

When was the church in Žeravice built?

The foundation stone was laid in 1722, funded by the church's patron, Hanuš Dětřich Petřsvaldský. Construction continued until 1728. Less than fifty years later, in 1775, a major fire swept through the village and seriously damaged the church. Reconstruction was not completed until 1803, giving the building the form it retains today.

What does the church's architecture look like?

The building was designed on a cross-shaped floor plan, measuring 35 metres in length and up to 19 metres in width. The vault above the main nave features three cupolas, making it one of the most distinctive Baroque sacred buildings in the region. Owing to its architectural value, the church has been protected as a cultural monument since March 1958.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior is decorated with paintings by Ignác Raab, a painter associated with Velehrad who worked on numerous Moravian church commissions during the 18th century. The church also holds a set of Stations of the Cross created by Jozef Uprka in 1897, adding a late 19th-century artistic accent to the otherwise Baroque interior.

Where exactly is Žeravice and how do you get to the church?

Žeravice lies in the South Moravian Region, in the Hodonín district, about 8 km east of the town of Kyjov. The church stands at coordinates 49.022682 N, 17.235036 E, in the northern part of the village, close to the main through road.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church in Žeravice dedicated to? It is dedicated to the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

Who funded the church's construction? Its founder and patron was Hanuš Dětřich Petřsvaldský, who laid the foundation stone in 1722.

Why was the church rebuilt? A major fire struck the village in 1775 and seriously damaged the church; reconstruction was completed in 1803.

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

What can be found inside the church? Paintings by Ignác Raab and a set of Stations of the Cross by Jozef Uprka from 1897.