The painter Znojemská opened a Stations of the Cross in nature in the Znojmo region

source: www.fatym.com

Jiřice (Znojemsko) - Today, a meditation Stations of the Cross created by painter Bedřiška Znojemská was opened to the public in Jiřice, Znojemsko. The author made it accessible on the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States as a tribute to the victims. The path is located in the old orchard of gallerist Petr Vystrčil and will be open to anyone who comes to see it, Vystrčil told ČTK today.
    The path was opened and blessed today by American priest of Czech descent Joseph Supa. Znojemská wanted to highlight the bond between emigrants and those who suffered under the communist regime in their homeland.
    The communist regime persecuted Znojemská as a believing woman. In the 1950s, she was not allowed to attend university, so she studied painting privately. Later, she chose a pseudonym because she could not create under her own name, Božena Krejčová.
    According to Vystrčil, Znojemská originally intended for the Stations of the Cross to serve spiritual purposes in one of the churches. However, the priests reportedly found her conception too modernist. Vystrčil therefore decided to make the paintings accessible in his orchard, which had not been touched by any gardener for 60 years. A special artistic effect is intended to arise from the contrast between the paintings and the "tropical jungle".
    The creators of the Stations of the Cross built a path through the orchard that guides the pilgrim through 14 stations. According to Vystrčil, the surroundings will intentionally remain neglected. The paintings are secured with straps on the oldest trees. The works are treated with a special coating and will be removed by the path's caretakers for the winter. The path ends at a small observation tower. "When our suffering and pain seem unbearable, let us go up. There, from a bird's eye view, from a distance, we will understand everything better," Vystrčil described. According to him, about 700 people attended today's ceremonial opening.
    Bedřiška Znojemská was born in 1928 in Znojmo. In her work, she consistently focuses on spiritual themes and has worked on the decoration of numerous churches, chapels, and bells. Critics describe her creations as romantically symbolist.