Vzkříšení Krista

Vzkříšení Krista (the Statue of the Risen Christ) is a stone figure of Christ standing right next to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the northern part of the village of Ostrov u Macochy, in the heart of the Moravian Karst — the very region the village is named after, since it sits "u Macochy", right by the famous Macocha Abyss. The statue belongs to a small group of sacred monuments gathered next to the church: alongside it stand a wayside cross and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, with the figure of Christ positioned at the front, on the left side of the trio.

When and why was the statue built?

The monument was erected in 1931, and the direct occasion for commissioning it was a round anniversary: the 40th anniversary of the priesthood of the local parish priest, Father Josef Mezník. That jubilee was the specific reason the statue was placed next to the church he served.

What does the statue depict?

Christ is shown at life size, dressed in a long robe and a cloak tied at the side. He has shoulder-length hair and a full beard. His right hand is raised in blessing, while his left hand holds an open book inscribed with the words "Jsem Vaše vzkříšení a Váš život" ("I am your resurrection and your life") — it is this inscription that gave the statue its name, referring to Christ's resurrection.

Where does the pedestal come from?

One notable detail is the pedestal itself, which was not made together with the 1931 statue — it comes from an earlier, Baroque composition depicting Ecce Homo. It is decorated with reliefs of the instruments of the Passion (the so-called arma Christi, symbols connected with the crucifixion), though the pedestal carries no explanatory inscriptions or dates.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The statue stands directly by the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Ostrov u Macochy, in the northern part of the village, together with the cross and the statue of St. John of Nepomuk mentioned above. The coordinates of the spot are 49.3818298 N, 16.7637362 E. The location fits naturally into a visit to the wider Moravian Karst area, since the village lies right next to the Macocha Abyss and the Punkva Caves system, making a short stop at the church and its trio of sacred monuments an easy addition to a day of sightseeing in the region.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Vzkříšení Krista statue built? In 1931, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the priesthood of Father Josef Mezník, the parish priest of Ostrov u Macochy at the time.

Where does the statue's name come from? From the inscription on the book held by Christ — "Jsem Vaše vzkříšení a Váš život" ("I am your resurrection and your life") — a reference to the resurrection.

Is the pedestal from the same period as the statue? No. The pedestal is older than the figure of Christ itself — it comes from a Baroque statue of Ecce Homo and is decorated with reliefs of the instruments of the Passion.

Are there other similar monuments next to the church? Yes. Next to the statue of Christ stand a wayside cross and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk — together the three form a small group of sacred monuments by the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Where exactly in Ostrov u Macochy is the statue located? By the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, in the northern part of the village (coordinates 49.3818298 N, 16.7637362 E), close to the famous Macocha Abyss and the entrance to the Punkva Caves system.