Prague will buy the Church of St. Simon and Jude for 125 million crowns

Prague - Prague will buy the baroque church of Saint Simon and Jude in the Old Town from the Order of the Brothers of Mercy for about 125 million crowns. The committee for property of the Prague council decided today on the intention to purchase the monument. The deputy mayor, Petr Dolínek (ČSSD), informed about it on Twitter. The deconsecrated monastery church serves as a concert hall.

"Today we unanimously decided at the property committee that Prague will buy the church of Saint Simon and Jude. The baroque monument is now known for its cultural function, and I am glad that the councilors recognize its value. We will help turn it into a community center in the heart of Prague 1," said Dolínek.

The Order of the Brothers of Mercy, which owns the church, approached the city council with an offer to sell it. The order is currently based in Brno and will not return to Prague. The church's value has been set by expert assessments at 96.4 million crowns, while the value of the furnishings is estimated at 28.6 million crowns, as stated in the approved material.

The church, dedicated to Saint Simon the Zealot and the 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. According to the agreement, the church has been under the long-term management of the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Prague FOK, which uses it as a concert hall for chamber music performances.