Prague took over the deconsecrated Church of St. Simon and Jude in the Old Town

Prague – The Prague City Hall has taken over the deconsecrated Church of St. Simon and Jude in the Old Town, which serves as a concert hall for the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. This was reported today by Prague councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09). The city purchased the church from the Czech Moravian Province of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God – Brothers of Mercy. The city paid 99.99 million crowns for the monument.

"The church will temporarily be under the management of the city hall's property management department. We are currently addressing the relationship with FOK. There is a possibility that it will be included in their founding document, which means it will be entrusted to them, but that has not been decided yet," said Chabr.

The orchestra will cover maintenance and energy costs. According to Chabr, the city has covered repairs in recent years under a rental agreement with the church. "We did not buy a ruin, and no investments are needed at this time," said Chabr.

The decision to purchase the church was made by Prague representatives this July. The original price was 125 million. After long negotiations, the city managed to agree on a discount. The magistrate was paying an annual rent of 800,000 crowns. If Prague wishes to dispose of the church in the future, the church order will have the right of first refusal.

The church dedicated to St. 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.