The Diocese of Brno will modify the presbytery of the cathedral on Petrov

Brno - The space around the altar of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Brno is set for changes. The presbytery is not stylistically cohesive, and the design competition to unify it was won by the proposal of architects Michal Říčný, Petr Todorov, and Magdalena Říčná. Representatives of the Brno diocese presented the design to journalists today.

"The main detail of the presbytery's modification is the bronze mesh. It is a new ornament inspired by the existing retable. The mesh resembles a fishing environment from which the apostles came, especially apostle Peter," stated architect Todorov. A retable is an altar accessory with sculptures or paintings.

The irregular structure of the mesh was designed by Magdalena Říčná. Upon closer inspection, it is possible to see the attributes of saints Peter and Paul, such as a boat, a key, a sword, or a rooster.

"We announced the competition on February 1, 2019. We approached ten authors who deal with sacred spaces. By the designated deadline of June 7, 2019, four authors submitted their designs," said Martin Motyčka, director of the Diocesan Museum in Brno. The jury then selected the proposal of architects Říčný, Todorov, and Říčná.

"We wanted to modify the presbytery space so that the lectern, altar, and seating for the priest corresponded to the unity of the cathedral," said Bishop Vojtěch Cikrle. The lectern is the place from which the priest speaks to the congregation. The winning design emphasizes the longitudinal axis of the cathedral and unifies the liturgical space.

The modification of the presbytery according to the architects' proposal can begin only after consultations with the National Heritage Institute.

The Cathedral on Petrov is one of the most significant architectural monuments in Brno, and its silhouette is known by nearly every Czech from the ten-crown coin. The origins of the current cathedral date back to the 11th to 12th century, and the current neo-Gothic form is from the early 20th century.