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The Czechoslovak Hussite Church
The
Czechoslovak Hussite Church (CHC) is a Christian church. It follows
teaching based on Scripture and on Christian tradition – professes
the tradition of the Early Church, that of Cyril and Methodius and
of the Reformation – grew out of the Modernist movement and was
founded on 8 January 1920 – is a liturgical church – administers the
seven sacraments – is a presbyterian church with episcopal elements,
its administration is composed of both the laity (elders) and the
ordained (preachers, deacons, priests and bishops) – clergy can be
men as well as women (after 1947) – believes in freedom of
conscience – proclaims the Gospel in a contemporary form.
The Church Organization
Parish community led by the select vestry and
the clergy (more than 300 communities in the Czech Republic and in
the Slovakia) Diocese led by diocese vestry and the bishop (Diocese
in the Czech Republic: Prague, Plzen, Hradec Králové, Brno, Olomouc;
in Slovakia: Bratislava) Central Council bishops together with
elected laity in equal numbers, led by the Patriarch Church
Corporation Central Council members, elected clergy and laity from
every diocese – limited authority of the Assembly among its
proccedings. Assembly – the highest legislative body clergy and
elected laity from every parish community.
The Wooden Church
The church was buiIt as an Orthodox-Christian
in Nizhne Seliste (Nižne Seliště) by the city of Khust (Chust) in
Subcarpathian Rus (from 1945 Transcarpathian region of Ukraine) near
the Rumanian frontier. The building of the church began in 1601 and
was finished after 40 years. This church is Transylvanian-maramaroshian
architectural type. The exact date is the 29th of July 1641 on feast
of saint Paraskieva who it was consecrated in that time. The Saint
Paraskieva, who icon is on right wall, is the Orthodox-Christian she-martyr.
She had been christened in Orthodox-Christian church and than began
to help to pure and ill people. But her father, who was a rich
trader, did not like it and he let kill her in 23-year age.
Later, after the Orthodox-Christian period,
this temple had been serving to the Greececatholic church for a
long centuries till to 20th years of the 20th century. In that time
people built a new church in stone. Old wooden church was
consecrated off, stood abbandoned and fell into dilapidate. After
rise of the tirst Czechoslovak republic was established the State
Office of care of historical monuments. This temple had been taken
to register and in 1935 was offered to Blansko' s congregation of
the Czechoslovak church. The discussion about buying and removing to
Blansko began. In 1936 the church was stripped down and transported
by 13 railway carriages into Blansko. Here, it was by master-carpenter
Mikhail Saleytchuk and his workers built up again. On 23th May 1937
during the church-celebration it was consecrated by Olomouc' s
bishop ThDr. Rostislav Stej skal again. Here are installed of origin
equipment the pictures and upper part of iconostas. Icon of saint
Nicholas - founder of Orthodox-Christian church, saint Paraskieva,
Jesus' s baptism and Madonna with Jesus. In a top line of iconostas
the apostles are - from left Thomas, Bartholomew, Andrew, Luke,
John, Peter, in the middle Jesus invested with king's vesture, next
are Paul, Mark, Matthew, Jacob, Simon and Philip. In lower line in
the middle is the Lord' s dínner and about biblical scenes. On the
left wall ís the icon of Madonna's death. In the fore part is the
copy of Brozik's picture Mister John Huss ahead of Constance' s
council - only one picture related to the Czechoslovak Hussite
church.
The larch benches, the parquet floor, and the
internal application ofwalls were made in 1946. Original external
walls were protected with shingles during building in 1937. The
tower is 28 meters tall and features hand-made crosses, whose last
reparation was made in 2000. The service has been performed here on
Fridays at 5:30 p.m. On Sundays the service starts at 9 a.m. Beside
regular service, the christenings, weddings and funerals have
beed celebrated in the church.
Education, the Children, and the Youth
CHC takes care of the spiritual growth of its
members by providing Bible study, pastoral care for children,
confirmees and youth, religious education, preparation for the
sacraments, courses, seminars, summer camps and other local,
diocesan or general church activities. CHC – a founder of schools
and educational institutes: Archa – the church kindergarten and
elementary school, a Specialty school, Harmonie – the music school,
Hus Institute for Theological Studies (HITS) CHC cooperates with
Hussite Theological Faculty of the Charles University in Prague (HTF
UK): education of the clergy and other employees of CHC and other
churches, religious, social, educational, cultural and other
organisations; HTF publish quarterly journal Theological Revue and
many theological publications – edition “Pontes Pragenses”
Further Activities of the Church
Social work: charitable and diaconical
activities in parish communities. Social work and counseling centres
at the diocesan level – senior houses, centres for disabled,
childrens' homes in cooperation weth Deakonie and Misie CHC and its
centres – humanitarian help – army, hospital and prison chaplains.
Culture and education: exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and so
onltural facilities – public educational facilities (e.g. Hussite
Centre)
International Cooperation
Ecumenical cooperation CHC is a member of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), Conference of European Churches (CEC),
Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), Ecumenical
Council of Churches in the Czech Republic (ECC), Ecumenical Academy
of Prague (EA) and other ecumenical boards; CHC meets with other
churches in the Czech Republic and abroad in ecumenical dialogue.
Church within society CHC tries to be engaged in all spheres of the
society, so as to fullfil its vocation: “The Czechoslovak Hussite
Church is composed of Christians who strive to fulfil the
contemporary moral striving and scientific knowledge with the Spirit
of Christ as preserved in the Scripture and the tradition of the
Early Church, and in the reform movements of the Bohemian
Reformation and the subsequent reformations efforts.”
The Czechoslovak Hussite Church is open to
all seekers.
Guided Tours in the Wooden Church
Opening Hours: every Wednesday and
Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5p.m. June -
September. Individual tours may be negotiated for groups.
Call 606 702 768 or 515 157 087. The guided tours include information on the
Wooden Church history.
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