Panna Maria

The statue of the Virgin Mary in Šebetov stands right before the entrance gate to the local cemetery in Moravia, Czech Republic. Together with a neighboring figure of the Archangel Gabriel, it forms a small but eloquent Annunciation scene — the kind of paired religious statuary that has greeted visitors at village cemetery gates across Bohemia and Moravia for generations.

What does the statue look like?

The figure is larger than life-size. Mary is shown in close-fitting robes, her head covered, with a cloak that falls in rich, softly draped folds. Her right hand rests on her chest, while her left is raised with the palm turned upward — the classic gesture of accepting God's will. Her head is gently inclined toward her left shoulder, giving the whole figure an air of quiet composure and humility.

The statue rests on a rectangular pedestal with a slightly tapering shaft, topped by a profiled, projecting cornice. The base carries a Latin inscription, "ECCE ANCILLA DOMINI" — "Behold the handmaid of the Lord" — Mary's answer to the Archangel Gabriel in the Annunciation scene from the Gospel of Luke. The inscription makes the meaning of the whole composition unmistakable: two separate statues, placed side by side, re-enact the exchange between the angel and Mary at the moment she learns she will bear Christ.

Where exactly is it?

The statue stands in Šebetov, a small village in Moravia near Boskovice, in a region known for its dense network of wayside chapels, roadside crosses, and devotional figures. It is positioned directly in front of the cemetery gate — a traditional placement for this type of religious sculpture in the area, meant to remind visitors of the passage between the world of the living and the sacred. The coordinates for the site are 49.5471785, 16.7141794.

Who is this for?

This is more of a stop along a route through Moravia's sacred heritage than a standalone destination — but for anyone interested in roadside sculpture and traditional Marian iconography, it's worth noting. The two-figure composition (Mary and Gabriel) reads clearly even without background knowledge, thanks to the expressive gestures and the inscription on the base. It's worth pausing here while exploring Šebetov and its surroundings, especially if your route passes by or through the local cemetery.

When to visit?

Since this is an outdoor site, accessible year-round with no opening hours, the best time to see it is during daylight, ideally in morning or afternoon light, which brings out the detail of the draped robes and the carved facial features. No ticket or advance booking is needed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the statue in Šebetov depict? Mary at the moment of receiving the Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel — together with the neighboring angel figure, it forms an Annunciation scene.

What does the inscription on the base mean? The Latin "ECCE ANCILLA DOMINI" is Mary's response in the Gospel of Luke: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," spoken after the angel delivers his message.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In front of the cemetery gate in Šebetov, Moravia, Czech Republic (coordinates 49.5471785, 16.7141794).

Is there an admission fee? No — it's an open-air site, freely accessible year-round with no fees and no opening hours.