The repaired Holy Mountain in Příbram will open on Sunday

Příbram - Svatá Hora in Příbram, which underwent an expensive reconstruction, will be ceremoniously opened to pilgrims on Sunday. Cardinal Dominik Duka will celebrate a mass on the occasion of the 283rd anniversary of the coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Svatá Hora. This was announced today by the spokesperson of the Prague Archbishopric, Aleš Pištora.

The renovation of one of the main pilgrimage sites of the Prague Archdiocese cost 190 million crowns; most of it was funded by the EU. Work began last May and lasted until the end of the year. It primarily involved repairs to the outer shells of the buildings and roofs, which were nearing the end of their lifespan. However, a blemish on the beauty is the fact that damp spots remain on the facade. According to Jan Traxler from the Svatá Hora complex, they are waiting for the wall to dry. "At the same time, we have entered negotiations with the contracting company. So if it doesn’t dry, we will file a warranty claim," Traxler told ČTK today.

According to Duka, the major reconstruction has revived the beauty of the baroque complex, but has also "in the current situation of confusion and uncertainty, uncovered Svatá Hora again as a wellspring of spiritual life." "I would like to invite all pilgrims to come to Svatá Hora on the occasion of the anniversary of the coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Svatá Hora," the cardinal stated.

According to legend, the statue of Our Lady with Jesus was created in the mid-14th century by Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice. In the 16th century, it was moved to a chapel on Svatá Hora, soon leading to a flow of processions. In 1632, a blind person was allegedly healed through it. Fifteen years later, the Jesuits took charge of the complex and turned it into the most significant pilgrimage site in Bohemia. In 1732, they also secured the coronation of the statue as the most notable privilege granted by a papal commission.