kostel svatého Šimona a Judy (Praha)

The Church of Sts. Simon and Jude is a former monastic church in Prague's Old Town, standing on Dušní street next to the hospital complex once run by the Hospitaller order (Milosrdní bratři). No longer used for worship, the building today functions as a concert hall, valued by classical music fans for its regular chamber and organ performances.

How far back does the site's history go?

The story starts around 1350, when a hospital with a Gothic chapel was founded on this spot. Tradition holds that the chapel was consecrated in 1357 by Arnošt of Pardubice, the first Archbishop of Prague and a close associate of Emperor Charles IV. Like many medieval hospitals, this early foundation combined care for the sick with a place of prayer — a common arrangement for municipal hospitals of the era.

Why was the present building only built in the 17th century?

The Gothic chapel stood for centuries before it was replaced by a grander structure. Between 1615 and 1620, the Bohemian Brethren erected a new church blending late Gothic and Renaissance elements, building on the older structure — only its north side aisle survived from the original chapel. Construction was far from smooth: in 1617 the vault collapsed, causing significant delays. The church was finally opened with great ceremony on 14 June 1620, just months before events that would reshape Bohemia's future for decades.

What changed after the Battle of White Mountain?

Only months after its opening, on 24 December 1620 — shortly after the defeat of the Protestant Bohemian Estates at the Battle of White Mountain — the church and its adjoining hospital passed into the hands of the Catholic Hospitaller order. This transfer was part of the broader wave of re-Catholicization that swept the Bohemian lands after 1620. The church was reconsecrated in 1632, and over the following decades it was remodeled to acquire the Baroque appearance that largely defines it today.

What happened to the church under communism?

The year 1950 brought a sharp break: the communist authorities expelled the Hospitallers from the monastery and nationalized the adjoining hospital. For decades the church lost both its original function and the community that had cared for it.

What does the church look like today?

After the fall of communism, the building was returned to the Hospitaller order. Between 1989 and 1993 it underwent an extensive, costly restoration that returned much of its architectural splendor. Despite the restitution, the church remains deconsecrated — it holds no liturgical services — and is now managed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK). It serves as a concert venue, its historic interior and favorable acoustics making it a popular setting for chamber, organ, and choral performances.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the Church of Sts. Simon and Jude without a concert ticket? The building operates primarily as a concert hall, so the easiest way to see its interior is by attending one of the regular musical performances held as part of Prague's concert season.

Where exactly is the church located? It stands on Dušní street in Prague's Old Town, directly next to the former Hospitaller hospital complex known as Na Františku.

Is the church still used for religious services? No — the building has been deconsecrated and for a long time has served purely cultural purposes, mainly as a concert hall.

What architectural style does the building represent? It combines late Gothic and Renaissance elements with a layer of Baroque alterations added after the Hospitallers took over the church in the 17th century.