Prague, July 2 (CTK) – Events marking the anniversary of the martyr death of Czech church reformer John Huss will culminate during the weekend and on Monday, July 6, when 600 years will pass since his burning at the stake.
The Huss festival organised by several churches will be held in the centre of Prague on July 5-6. The Monday events will end with a silent march to the Vltava (Moldau) River.
Huss’s legacy is also commemorated in Constance, Germany, where he died.
Huss (1369-1415) was a university teacher and priest who criticised the church for diverting from its original ideals, the priests’ immoral lifestyle and trafficking in indulgences. He refused to revoke his teaching, was accused of heresy and burnt at the stake by a decision of the Church Council in Constance on July 6, 1415.
A number of Czech institutions have organised exhibitions, symposiums and conferences focused on Huss’s work and his importance for history and the present in the past few months.
Since Huss was also a Prague university master, Charles University has prepared an exhibition presenting Huss as a student, teacher, dean and rector of this university, which is opened in its historical building, Karolinum, until August 28.
An Academic Assembly dedicated to Huss will be held there Thursday, with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka attending.
An exhibition on Huss will be also opened in the seat of the Senate this afternoon and Huss’s letters from Constance will be read in the St Martin Church in the Wall this evening.
On Saturday morning, the Huss Festival starts at the Krakovec Castle, west Bohemia, from where Huss left for the Council of Constance in October 1415.
On Saturday night, a light and music performance entitled Bethlehem Odyssey will be staged in Prague. Videomapping will be screened on the facade of the Bethlehem Chapel, a copy of the building where he was really preaching.
Two days later, an installation will be unveiled on the facade of the chapel. The inscription “For Truth” will be created by sun beams penetrating through small metal plates on the facade. Its appearance will depend on the weather.
The same inscription in German will be placed on the facade of Stephanschule in Constance where Huss was imprisoned.
The main anniversary programme, the Huss Festival 2015, held by the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and Czechoslovak Hussite Church, will be staged on Old-Town Square in Prague on Sunday and Monday.
Tomas Butta, patriarch of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, said it would not be a celebration of death, but of Huss alive. He inspired people not only to follow the path of truth, but also to express solidarity and friendly unity between people and nations.
The Huss anniversary was also commemorated in the Vatican.
In June, Pope Francis received representatives of Czech protestant churches. According to Czech Christians, the audience with the Pope was the culmination of the efforts for which Pope John Paul II had called. He expressed regret at Huss’s cruel death and recognised him as a church reformer.
Pope Francis said the Roman Catholic Church had been hurt by Huss’s burning to death. He called on the church to solve controversial issues from the past with a new insight.
