The church in southern Bohemia has already sold 55 parishes and is preparing to sell more

České Budějovice - Parishioners, the state, municipalities, and European funds invested 127 million crowns last year into the preservation of church monuments in the České Budějovice diocese. Twelve years ago, experts estimated the costs for removing the architectural neglect of monuments at 4.5 billion crowns, with an average of around 80 million crowns being obtained annually. Most of the funds go towards the restoration of churches. However, the church had to sell about 55 abandoned parish properties, and another 50 are expected to face the same fate, said František Mrosko, a construction technician from the České Budějovice diocese today.
    At the beginning of the restoration, the priority became the reconstruction of roofs and rafters; no church in South Bohemia is currently threatened with destruction. It is estimated that more than a billion crowns have been directed towards them. After the opening of the borders, former natives living in Austria and Germany contributed to the restoration of church monuments in the South Bohemian border area. Foreign parishes donated to the restoration of churches in Přední Výton, Zvonková, Hodňov, and Polná, and help continues to this day in Pohoří na Šumavě and other municipalities.
    According to Mrosko, it is very difficult to obtain money for the repair of parish properties. "We do not have a priest, and many buildings have been empty for decades; some are used by schools or municipalities. Most parishes were built during the reign of Joseph II, who reformed and reorganized the parishes. The price of those already sold ranged from half a million to four million crowns," Mrosko stated. Most parishes were bought and reconstructed by vacationers for summer housing, but there were also entrepreneurs who built their centers or workshops in the economic premises of the parishes. They also came into the possession of municipalities.
    The restoration of monuments is often a long-distance race. "For example, the reconstruction of the roof of the convent church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Piarist Square (in České Budějovice) has been ongoing for ten years, and we are only halfway through. We would need about 1.8 million crowns to complete the presbytery, and we have received 600,000; hence it will not be completed this year either," Mrosko remarked.
    In the Dominican monastery in České Budějovice, construction of which began at the instigation of Přemysl Otakar II in 1265, the restoration of the cloister and paradise courtyard continues. This could be completed next year with regular contributions from the ministry and the city. The project's goal is to fully open up all wings of the cloister. Partitions are gradually being removed, and the paradise courtyard, stone elements, and wall paintings are being restored. The northern and western wings are complete, and work has begun on the southern wing.
    According to heritage experts, the most significant discovery in the monastery is three wall-mounted Marian paintings. In one of them, the Virgin Mary Protector symbolically watches over secular and ecclesiastical states. Kneeling under her left hand is Emperor Charles IV with his son Wenceslas IV. Another surprise was the finding of what seems to be the oldest depiction of České Budějovice.

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