Restored cathedral in Č. Budějovice according to Marek J. Štěpán

Czech Budějovice - Over five hundred people attended the mass of the newly opened Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Czech Budějovice today. It was closed for two years for the renovation of the interior, which cost over 41 million crowns. Half of it was covered by a European grant. The mass was celebrated by Bishop Jiří Paďour of Czech Budějovice.
    The cathedral dean, Zdeněk Mareš, said that the reopening of the cathedral signifies an extraordinary event for the believers in the South Bohemia region. "The cathedral is significant for the entire diocese, for the whole region," said the dean. Therefore, more than two hundred people crowded into the pews during the morning mass. Approximately three hundred more stood in the cathedral.
    During the renovation of the cathedral near the Budějovice square, archaeologists discovered three crypts and a fresco of the patron. Since June 2011, electricians have made new electrical installations and lighting in the church. A new heated floor was installed. The interior had been transformed beyond recognition with new painting, especially with the change in color of the rich stuccos. Before that, a crack at the top of the arch of the church had to be sealed.
    The author of the new large liturgical arrangement of the church is architect Marek Jan Štěpán, who systematically deals with sacred architecture in his studio. The new liturgical centerpiece is a six-ton circular altar made of Carrara marble. The wooden paneling and oak pews are also new. The project also included the construction of a chamber hall and facilities for performers and believers in the adjacent deanery building, as well as new furniture in the presbytery.
    The cornerstone of the parish church for the royal town of Czech Budějovice was laid around 1265, shortly after the founding of the town. It has been significantly rebuilt several times, and in 1641 it burned down. In the 16th century, it gained a new bell tower in the form of the Black Tower and in 1785 it became a cathedral, that is, the main church of the Czech Budějovice diocese.