sv. Vavřinec z Brindisi

The Statue of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi is one of six stone figures standing on the terrace in front of the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross on Kapucínské náměstí in Brno. Although it blends naturally into the baroque ensemble of sculptures surrounding the Capuchin church, its history is younger than it might first appear — and involves a surprising replacement that took place on this very spot in the twentieth century.

Where does the statue stand?

The figure stands on the ramp leading to the entrance of the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross, which, together with the adjoining Capuchin monastery, forms one of the most recognizable religious complexes in the center of Brno. Kapucínské náměstí, where the church is located, sits in the very heart of the city, right next to Zelný trh (Cabbage Market), making it easily accessible to anyone exploring the historic city center.

Where does this sculpture come from?

The series of stone saint figures decorating the terrace in front of the church was created in 1765 by the sculptor Jan Adam Nessmann. The statue depicting Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, however, was not part of the original set — it appeared on the terrace only in 1927, replacing a statue of the Holy Trinity that had previously stood in the same spot. The sculpture's author is the Czech sculptor Čeněk Vosmík, one of the respected creators of monuments and sacred figures active at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

What does the statue look like?

The figure depicts the saint frontally, at life size, dressed in a Capuchin habit with a long, pointed hood arranged in regular folds. At the waist, the habit is bound with a cord ending in three knots — a symbol of the three religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. A large rosary hangs from the left side of the figure, wound around the saint's left leg and falling down along it. On the front of the pedestal supporting the statue is a Latin inscription, "S. LAURENTIUS (a) BRUND.," which clearly identifies the figure represented.

Who was Saint Lawrence of Brindisi?

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (1559–1619) was an Italian Capuchin friar, theologian, and preacher renowned for his extraordinary command of languages as well as his diplomatic and missionary work across Europe. In 1959, on the four-hundredth anniversary of his birth, Pope John XXIII declared him a Doctor of the Church. Placing his statue among the figures adorning the Capuchin church in Brno is no coincidence — as a member of the same order, he became a natural patron for the community of Capuchin friars running the monastery on Kapucínské náměstí.

Why is it worth noticing?

Despite being relatively young compared to the rest of the eighteenth-century sculptural ensemble, the statue fits well into the style and atmosphere of the terrace in front of the church. For visitors to Kapucínské náměstí, it is an additional detail worth noticing while touring the church itself and the famous Capuchin crypt in the monastery's basement — one of the most visited sites in Brno's historic center.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the statue of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi stand? On the ramp leading to the entrance of the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross on Kapucínské náměstí in the center of Brno.

Who created the sculpture and when? The Czech sculptor Čeněk Vosmík created it in 1927, replacing an earlier statue of the Holy Trinity.

Does the statue belong to the original eighteenth-century sculptural set? No — most of the figures on the terrace were made in 1765 by Jan Adam Nessmann, and the statue of Saint Lawrence joined them only in 1927.

Who was Saint Lawrence of Brindisi? An Italian Capuchin friar who lived from 1559 to 1619, a theologian and preacher declared a Doctor of the Church in 1959.

What else is worth seeing at this location? The Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross itself and its adjoining Capuchin crypt, one of the most visited attractions in historic Brno.