Chapel of the Four Saints

The new chapel of the Four Saints is primarily associated with my opportunity to glimpse into the creative process, invention, and authorship diligence of Kamil Měrka. The discussions with him on this topic were very enriching for me. It was interesting to watch how the final idea emerges from many possibilities. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to bless the completed work. It was a profound moment on that September evening, where even nature seemed to show a certain struggle between dark, brooding tones and light. I read the symbolism of the artifact in a kind of tense harmony of the numbers one and four. From a distance, we see a not very tall stela, which on one hand resembles a trunk, but on the other clearly aims at the sky. As if it were saying, “Human, do not be afraid to rise above the dust of your earthly path. Your goal is above the horizon!” When we come closer, we see the detailed form. The cross has four arms. They manifest in views as well as in the ground plan. In the frontal view, it is the intersection of the horizontal with the vertical. The very "four" symbolizes the world with its elements, seasons, and cardinal directions. Thus, the four is united with the one here, the horizontal with the vertical. In that, I see the tension of human destiny. We are made from the dust of the earth, but we have the Breath of life within us. We walk the earth, but our goal is in heaven.
The field path from Sobětuch to Rabštejnská Lhota is lined with young rows of trees. Many cyclists use it. The view of the Iron Mountains is colored by the sun setting behind the tower of the church in the valley. Above, the last gliders circle before returning to the nearby airport, also used by the military for parachute jumps. Among the locals, this path is called Perný Hill – "Perňák".
The intention of the municipality to build a small sacred object here, marked in the spatial plan by a simple cross, took on a concrete form. By overlapping two spatial crosses, a simple object with four niches emerged. The context of the place brought the dedication of the chapel to four patrons. They are represented by stylized symbols oriented to all cardinal directions. The Czech land — Saint Wenceslas — the Saint Wenceslas Crown, the airport and the military — Archangel Michael — sword, fields, and farmers — Saint Isidore — spade, cyclists, and hikers — Saint Christopher — pilgrim's staff.
Structurally, the chapel is designed as a welded structure of corten sheets 20 mm thick, under which a stainless steel box containing a message for future generations from local children and the municipality's leadership is placed.
The object of the chapel is complemented by a bench with a plaque briefly describing the used symbolism.