Churches

Church of St. Vojtěch

The Church of St. Vojtěch (Adalbert) stands on the site of what was originally a wooden chapel, built with money received by the people of Ostašov as compensation for their suffering during the Seven Years' War.
Location
Address:KřižanskáLiberec, 460 02GPS:50°45'52.7''N; 15°00'35.3''E[Map]
Contact
GSM:+420 777 793 339+420 777 793 337E-mail:sp.ostasov@seznam.czWeb:www.ostasov.eu

Wooden chapel built with war reparations

The people of Ostašov went to mass in nearby Liberec, until in 1770 they were awarded compensation for their suffering during the Seven Years' War. In 1771, the locals used the money to build a wooden chapel, which they dedicated to St. Adalbert and purchased a bell, cast by bell-maker Josef Pietschmann of Mikulášovice. The chapel was consecrated by the Dean of Liberec, Anton Ignaz Kopsch. 

Wooden church with cannonballs

The wooden chapel was used until 1827, but gradually fell into disrepair and was rebuilt as a brick church in 1832-1833. At the request of the estate owner, Kristian Christoph Clam-Gallas, the engineer F. Effenberger was commissioned to build it. To commemorate the Seven Years' War, two cannonballs were originally bricked up above the entrance to the church, but were later removed during the reconstruction in 1880. 

Transformations of the church

In 1887, a sacristy was added to the church, a new organ from Zittau was installed, and a fine neo-Gothic altar with a triptych of St. Adalbert, St. Joseph and St. Anthony was added to the interior. The interior was painted and the pews repaired in 1913 with funds from the church collections. At the end of the last century, however, it gradually ceased to be used, masses were no longer celebrated and the whole building and its interior slowly fell into disrepair.

The rescue of the church and loving care from the locals

In 2008, the people of Ostašov, together with representatives of the town, began working to save this heritage site. Since 2011, the church has been cared for by the Friends of Ostašov Society, whose members organise concerts and other events which have breathed life back into the church after being forgotten for so many years. At the same time, they have been slowly restoring the place to its former splendour and dignity. The interior plaster has been renovated, new lighting and electrical wiring have been installed, the original chandelier has been restored, the harmonium, pews and sacristy doors have been repaired, and so on. It is also instantly obvious that the tower has been repaired and a new clock added, which tells the time in 15-minute increments and strikes the hour from 7 in the morning until 10 in the evening. The old-new heart is beating once again in Ostašov... 

St. Vojtěch

St. Vojtěch came from the Slavník dynasty, lived in the 10th century and is better known abroad as St. Adalbert. He fought against paganism and played a part in the development of Latin literature. He is the author of the oldest Czech and Polish spiritual songs, among the most famous of which is "Hospodine, pomiluj ny" ("Lord, Love Us").