The church in Senetářov is unique in its architecture and its origins during the totalitarian period

Prague - The construction of a new church would not be anything special if it weren't for the beginning of the 1970s and if the communist party, which was unfriendly toward the church, hadn't been in power in then Czechoslovakia. However, the small village of Senetářov in the Blansko region managed to achieve this miracle, and today it boasts a gem of modern architecture. The small, yet noticeable Church of St. Joseph was opened 50 years ago, on July 11, 1971. It was consecrated only after the fall of communism in 1991. It is one of the few sacred buildings constructed during the totalitarian regime.

The history of the church reflects the absurdity of that time. It happened that the socialist authorities did not even register that the "ideologically undesirable" building had been growing for two years. After the construction was completed, which had been permitted at the district level and unwittingly ignored by the highest authorities, a flood of bans, lawsuits, and penalties erupted. The communist regime initially wanted to convert the church into a cultural house or demolish it altogether. Finances, the origin of the material, and who participated in the construction were scrutinized.

Eventually, the state authorities allowed the use of the new sanctuary under the condition that it would not be consecrated. The opening of the church in 1971 was dramatic - the area around the village was closed off by state security, so participants in the mass had to park in the fields and walk. About 15,000 believers from across the republic gathered in Senetářov, which has a population of approximately 500. The festive consecration of the Church of St. Joseph took place in 1991 with the participation of the Bishop of Brno, Vojtěch Cikrle.

The design of the extravagant building was created in less than two weeks by artist and architect Ludvík Kolek (1933). For inspiration, he drew from Le Corbusier, the Swiss-French architect and painter, a representative of purism and brutalism. The Senetářov church made of concrete and glass gives believers the impression of "a ship that travels through the centuries, gathering believers and transporting them to God." Kolek is also the author of the interior modifications - the white walls are adorned with stained glass, and the altar wall features a triptych in turquoise.

A gem of the interior is the impressive abstract Stations of the Cross by Mikuláš Medek (1926 to 1974), one of the most significant post-war artists. Fourteen paintings of the stations in dark blue-red tones were painted by the spiritually inclined Medek at a time when he was already seriously ill. He is also the author of the altar paintings in the Baroque church in nearby Jedovnice (the frame was created by sculptor Jan Koblasa; Karel Nepraš and Josef Istler also contributed to the church's decoration) and in Kotvrdovice.

Behind the bold construction of the church in Senetářov was a promise made by the local inhabitants, who were displaced during World War II in 1944, that if they returned safely, they would build a new chapel. The area was supposed to function as a military firing range. It would take many more years before the plan could be realized. Much credit for its completion goes to Father František Vavříček, who demonstrated a sense of what could attract and appeal to people. Construction began in June 1969.

The financial resources for the Church of St. Joseph came from collections and donations from believers, and the citizens built it on their own. The costs of construction reached two to 2.5 million Czechoslovak crowns.