Stop Eleven – The Church Of The Assumption Of The Virgin Mary ENG

You have ascended to the monasterial Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Radical- Baroque church was consecrated in 1724, becoming part of the Paulaner monastery. 

The Paulan order was an austere rule involving continuous fasting, poverty, silence, and exercising humility. They devoted themselves to education and scientific activities. The motto of the order “Charitas” expresses the relationship to God and fellowmen. 

When entering the pilgrimage temple, the tired pilgrims are greeted by the statue of St. Elmo and St. Liborius, the patrons of pilgrims, created in 1783. The Baroque space formed by five ellipses is seemingly infinite, although on the interior the nave’s length is only 41 metres, the width 18 metres, and the height 20 metres. This illusionistic opening of the space magnifies the impression of the Baroque space. 

The main altar features a statue of Madonna and Child from the turn of the 15th and 16th century. The land yielded a picture of the Virgin Mary – its discovery in the nearby Stupná, a site of a gold and silver mine, gave rise to the construction of the pilgrimage church. 

The dome-shaped vault bears frescos by J. Kramolín and his disciples. Above the main altar, there is a fresco depicting St. Francis of Paola bowing to the Blessed Sacrament in a temple plundered by soldiers. The biggest central pane bears a fresco of Our Lady in Heaven.

Pilgrim, stop for a moment, calm your soul, and beg of Her 

A chapel at the former gold and silver mine in Stupná

Our Lady of Nová Paka, devotional statue, polychrome wood sculpture, the turn of the 15th and 16th century

Our Lady of Nová Paka, an image of the devotional sculpture above the pilgrimage shrine; below St. Francis of Paola and St. John of Nepomuk

The church has three bells – Maria and John of Nepomuk from 1993 in the main belfry, and Virgin Mary from 1858 in the ridge turret. 

The interior of the nave with illusionistic ornamentation creating the infinite space, photo by ing. Jaroslav Kocourek