Chapel of Bethlehem

The Bethlehem Chapel, located in the Old Town of Prague, is one of the most significant places of the Bohemian Reformation and an important symbol of religious and cultural resistance in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1391 by Wenceslas Kříž and John of Milheim, the chapel was built with the intention of hosting sermons in the Czech language, a revolutionary choice in a time dominated by Latin. The chapel could accommodate up to 3000 people, a surprising number for a structure that was not officially recognized as a church but only as a chapel. The central figure associated with the Bethlehem Chapel is Jan Hus, a religious reformer and rector of the University of Prague, who began preaching here in 1402. Hus was deeply influenced by the ideas of the English theologian John Wycliffe and used the pulpit of the chapel to criticize the corruption of the clergy and the practices of the Catholic Church, such as the sale of indulgences. His eloquence and fervor attracted a large following, but also put him at odds with ecclesiastical and secular authorities. In 1412, after being excommunicated, Hus continued to preach against the injustices of the Church until, in 1415, he was summoned to the Council of Constance, where he was declared a heretic and burned at the stake. Jan Hus’s death did not mark the end of the reform movement in Bohemia, but rather radicalized it. His followers, known as Hussites, continued to challenge the authority of the Catholic Church and fight for the freedom to preach and for communion under both species, practices that Hus had vigorously defended. The Bethlehem Chapel remained a symbol of this struggle, although it underwent various vicissitudes over time. In the 17th century, the chapel passed into the hands of the Jesuits, who used it until it was largely demolished in 1786. The remaining parts were incorporated into a new residential building. However, during the Czechoslovak communist regime, the chapel was restored to its state during Hus’s time, as part of a broader effort to recover the Czech cultural heritage. Today, much of the outer walls and a small portion of the original pulpit have survived, while the mural frescoes date back to Hus’s period and depict themes such as the poverty of Christ contrasted with the wealth of the Catholic Church at the time. The location of the Bethlehem Chapel in the Old Town of Prague makes it easily accessible and an integral part of the city’s historical tourist route. Its proximity to other important historical sites, such as the Charles Bridge and Charles University, founded in 1348 by Charles IV, highlights the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of the area.