Church of the Holy Spirit

Church of the Holy Spirit is a small, freestanding church in the center of Jihlava, tucked among the greenery of Smetanovy sady park, close to the Horácké winter stadium, a management academy, a secondary school and the Dukla cinema. Today it functions as a branch chapel of the parish of St. James, but its history reaches back to the 16th century and began under a completely different dedication.

When was the church built, and what was it originally dedicated to?

The building was constructed in 1572 as a cemetery chapel in the Renaissance-Mannerist style. Interestingly, it was first dedicated to the Holy Trinity - only later was the patronage changed to the Holy Spirit, the dedication the chapel still carries today.

How did the Swedish occupation affect the church?

The chapel did not survive the wars of the era unscathed. During the Swedish occupation the building was almost completely destroyed, forcing a thorough reconstruction. The work was finished in 1661, giving the chapel a Mannerist form that echoed its earlier architectural character.

What changed at the end of the 19th century?

In 1892 the chapel underwent another renovation, this time in the Neo-Baroque style. During these works, twelve tombstones from the former cemetery that once surrounded the church were placed inside the building - today they remain one of the few tangible traces of that old burial ground.

What has changed inside the chapel in recent years?

Between 2024 and 2025 the interior was adapted to new liturgical needs: a new wooden floor was installed and raised steps were built in front of an iconostasis, which was also set up inside. These changes are connected to talks that have been underway since 2023 between the chapel's current owner, the Roman Catholic parish of St. James in Jihlava, and the local Orthodox community, which was offered the opportunity to use the previously unused chapel. Whether the building will eventually be transferred to the Orthodox community remains a matter of ongoing discussion.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands right in the center of Jihlava, in Smetanovy sady park, near Dvořákova street, at geographic coordinates 49.3975 N, 15.584722 E. Its position within the park makes the small chapel easy to spot for anyone walking through, and it serves as a recognizable landmark in this part of the city.

Frequently asked questions

Has the Church of the Holy Spirit always carried this dedication? No - when it was built in 1572, the chapel was originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The dedication to the Holy Spirit came later and has remained ever since.

Who owns the church today? It belongs to the Roman Catholic parish of St. James in Jihlava, although talks have been ongoing since 2023 about making the building available to the local Orthodox community.

What can be found inside the church? Twelve tombstones from the former cemetery that once surrounded the chapel have been preserved inside, and since 2024-2025 the interior also features a new iconostasis and a raised platform in front of it.

Where exactly should visitors look for the church in Jihlava? In Smetanovy sady park in the city center, near the Horácké winter stadium and a management academy.

Is the chapel currently in use? Formally it remains a branch chapel of the parish of St. James, but in practice it stood unused for years, which is what prompted the current discussions about its future use.