Prague will buy the church of St. Simon and Jude for 99.99 million crowns

Prague - Prague will buy the deconsecrated church of Saint Simon and Jude in the Old Town, which currently serves as a concert hall for the Symphony Orchestra of the capital city of Prague FOK. The city will pay 99.99 million crowns for the monument. Today, Prague representatives approved the purchase. The owner of the church is the Czech-Moravian Province of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God - Brothers of Mercy.

"The church's significance exceeds that of ordinary properties. It is a building where FOK has long been based and serves as a concert hall. The capital pays rent and significant investments have been made into the property in the past," said councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09).

The original price of the church of Saint Simon and Jude was 125 million crowns. After long negotiations, the city agreed on a discount. According to the document approved by the councilor, the owner offered the church to the city. According to the contract valid from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, the city pays an annual rent of 800,000 crowns. If Prague wanted to dispose of the church in the future, the mentioned church order will have the right of first refusal.

Opposition councilor Ivan Pilný (ANO) criticized the purchase of the church. "I think these are matters that could be postponed until we know what we can afford. A delay of a few months would not hurt it. I would prefer if we postponed these decisions," said Pilný. According to him, Prague should allocate funds for adjusting teachers' salaries instead.

Chabr disagreed with him, stating that this involves money from the approved budget chapter for land purchases. "The purchase of the church should then be paid from the dividends from the Municipal House," said Chabr.

The church dedicated to Saint Simon the Zealot and Apostle Jude was built in the 17th century on the site of a Gothic church. The Baroque monument was part of the hospital of the Brothers of Mercy. The church has been under the long-term management of the Symphony Orchestra of the capital city of Prague FOK based on a contract.