Church of the Transfiguration

The Church of the Transfiguration rises on a raised platform in the Jejkov district of Třebíč, reached by a short flight of steps, as part of a former Capuchin monastery complex. Its plain, almost austere silhouette is visible well before you reach the site.

Why was this church built?

The church's origins are tied to the founding of the Capuchin monastery at Jejkov. The project was initiated by František Augustin of Valdštejn, and the monastery's foundation stone was laid on June 3, 1687, on ground that had previously served as a meeting place for the Unity of the Brethren. The monastery itself was finished around the turn of 1690–1691, but construction of the church dragged on until autumn 1693. The building, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, was consecrated on October 15, 1693, by Bishop Jan Josef Breuner.

What does the church look like?

True to Capuchin building tradition, the church is deliberately plain, with no decorative excess. It has a single nave oriented toward the south and two side chapels. For most of its history it had no tower at all — one was only added on the west side in 1884, an unusual choice since Capuchin churches typically went without towers altogether. The addition was funded by Father Albert Chlumecký, who served as the monastery's prior and guardian at the time.

What happened after the monastery was dissolved?

In 1784 the convent church was separated from the monastery, and the Roman Catholic parish of Třebíč-Jejkov was established in its place. The church has served as this parish's parish church ever since. It is also listed as a protected cultural monument.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in Třebíč, in the Vysočina Region, on the grounds of the former Capuchin monastery complex at Jejkov. Its coordinates are 49.2141 N, 15.8855 E.

Frequently asked questions

What is the church called in Czech? Kostel Proměnění Páně — literally, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Is this the same building as the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor in Israel? No. The two share only a name. The Franciscan church on Mount Tabor commemorates the biblical Transfiguration in a completely different country; the church described here is a former Capuchin monastery church in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.

Was the church originally part of a monastery? Yes. It was built as the monastery church of the Capuchin friary at Jejkov, founded on the initiative of František Augustin of Valdštejn in the late 17th century.

When was the church consecrated? On October 15, 1693, by Bishop Jan Josef Breuner.

Does the church have a tower? It does now, but not from the start — a tower was only added in 1884, which was unusual for the otherwise plain, typically towerless Capuchin churches.

What is the church used for today? It serves as the parish church of Třebíč-Jejkov and is protected as a cultural monument.