Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius

The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague is a Roman Catholic church standing on Karlínské náměstí in the Karlín district, part of Prague 8. Raised in the middle of the 19th century, it ranks among the largest church buildings erected in Bohemia during that era and stands as one of the country's most significant Neo-Romanesque landmarks.

When was the church built, and who designed it?

Construction ran from 1854 to 1863. The foundation stone was laid on 10 June 1854 on Karlín's main square, with Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth in attendance — a sign of how much prestige the project carried from the outset. The design came from Karl Rösner, a professor of architecture in Vienna, though the Prague-based architect Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann reworked many structural details and finer points during construction. The building work itself was carried out by Jan Bělský, with Karel Svoboda responsible for the stonemasonry.

Why did Karlín need a church of its own?

Until 1851, Karlín had no independent parish administration of its own and fell under the neighboring Olšany parish. As this once-suburban industrial district grew rapidly through the mid-19th century, the need for a proper local church grew with it. The initiative came from the Catholic Union (Katolická jednota) in Prague, which began raising funds among residents and the faithful from 1850 onward.

What architectural style does the church represent?

The building follows the Neo-Romanesque style, modeled on a late Romanesque basilica, with a markedly raised central nave and twin towers flanking the facade. At 75 meters long and 31 meters wide, it counts among the largest sacred buildings of 19th-century Bohemia. Inside, the layout runs from a vestibule through three naves to a presbytery closed by a semicircular apse, flanked by chapels set into the base of each tower.

When was the church consecrated, and by whom?

The solemn consecration took place on 18 October 1863 — deliberately timed to the millennial anniversary of Saints Cyril and Methodius's arrival on their Slavic mission, lending the occasion an extra layer of symbolism. Cardinal Bedřich (Friedrich) Schwarzenberg performed the consecration, drawing an unusually large turnout from the Karlín community.

Who was responsible for the interior decoration?

Selecting the artists and artworks for the church's interior fell to the Fine Arts Union (Krasoumná jednota), which set up a dedicated body for the purpose — the Union for the Embellishment of the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius in Karlín. It operated continuously from 1863 to 1937, reviewing proposals and overseeing the execution of the various decorative elements.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same church as the cathedral on Resslova Street? No. Two separate buildings in Prague are dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. This one, in Karlín, is a Roman Catholic parish church. The Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius on Resslova Street in the New Town — known for the crypt where the paratroopers behind the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich took refuge — is an entirely different building, several kilometers away.

Where exactly is the church located? On Karlínské náměstí, the main square of the Karlín district, within Prague's administrative Prague 8 borough.

What architectural style is it built in? Neo-Romanesque, modeled on a late Romanesque basilica, with two towers and a strongly elevated central nave.

Who designed it? Vienna-based architecture professor Karl Rösner drew up the plans, while Prague architect Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann refined many of the construction details.

How long did construction take? Nine years, from the laying of the foundation stone in 1854 to the consecration in 1863.