In the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Old Town, the south tower is already accessible

Old Town (Uherskohradišťsko) - The southern tower of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Old Town is accessible from today. Miroslav Suchomel, the pastor, told ČTK. Visitors of the Sunday Great Moravian concert, the proceeds of which will go towards the completion of the church, will also be able to view the tower. Construction began in 2002; it was blessed and temporarily put into use two years ago. It lacks a solid altar, tabernacle, and other elements for consecration.

"The church is in a state of completion, ripening, on the way. It needs to be polished," said Suchomel. The church currently features only provisional benches, altar, ambo, and tabernacle. They can be used to hold Holy Mass, and the church also attracts numerous pilgrims. According to Suchomel, the newly accessible southern tower, which the parish will rent to the town, will contribute to this. It is connected to the Jesuit cellar, which the town hall has already reconstructed.

"There was a demand for the tower; it is 40 meters high and is the highest lookout point in Old Town. From it, you can see the White Carpathians, Mount Hostýn, and of course the nearby Buchlov Mountains beautifully," described the view Suchomel. The tower was in a raw state; it needed steps, about 130 of them, plastering, railings, and handles. The bells are still missing on the second-to-last floor of the tower beneath the lookout. The town hall contributed 1.3 million crowns for the completion of the tower.

"It could be interesting for all tourists to stop by," said Mayor Josef Bazala (KDU-ČSL). The town has already invested about 25 million crowns in the construction of the church. Additionally, around 50 million crowns were spent on the Great Moravia Square, a place for relaxation, concerts, and seating not only for the faithful. The mentioned Jesuit cellar and information center are also open, along with social facilities, new furniture, and greenery. The atmosphere is also enhanced by the adjacent Great Moravia Memorial.

The church, designed by Slovenian architect Ivo Goropevšek, stands in close proximity, in line with a 9th-century church, the foundations of which are in the memorial. The floor plan of the new church takes the shape of a rotunda, that is, a Great Moravian church. Its two towers represent the two Slavic missionaries, St. Cyril and Methodius. The axes of the columns and towers converge in one place, symbolizing the orientation towards one goal - God.

The main nave has an exterior cladding made of glass, symbolizing the penetration of rays (gifts of the Holy Spirit) and the openness of the church. In the basement beneath the main nave, a hall has been designed for social use, cultural and educational events. According to Suchomel, about 15 million crowns are still needed to complete the church. The parish would first like to acquire permanent benches and then an altar, tabernacle, and ambo, which will be made by the sculptor Otmar Oliva from Velehrad. The church could be consecrated by 2021.

The construction has so far cost over 90 million crowns. However, the hall and northern tower, which should be barrier-free thanks to an elevator, are also not completed. The parish will need additional funds, which it is acquiring from donations. The Great Moravian concert, which takes place in the Great Moravian Square on Sunday at 5:00 PM, will also help. Performers will include Jiří Pavlica and Hradišťan or Alfred Strejček.