The Cathedral of the Divine Savior in Ostrava is set for a renovation costing 55 million

Ostrava - The largest church in Ostrava, the Cathedral of the Divine Savior in the city center, is set to undergo extensive reconstruction costing nearly 55 million crowns. The repairs will begin next week and the temple will be closed for almost a year due to the work. After its completion, a small museum will also be established in the church. CTK was informed about this by Pavel Siuda, spokesperson for the Ostrava-Opava diocese.
    "This building has needed reconstruction for several years, as evidenced by the protective nets on the church towers. It was dangerous that parts of the plaster were crumbling and sections of the cornice were falling to the ground," said Siuda.
    Funding has only been secured this year. The diocese will receive 31 million crowns as a grant from the Regional Operational Program Moravian-Silesian. "These funds will be used for repairs of the exterior, creating hygienic facilities for church visitors, and implementing the exhibition. Additional resources of nine million crowns from the European Union have been obtained through cross-border cooperation with the Opole Diocese," stated Miroslav Přikryl, project manager of the diocese. The remaining costs will be covered by the diocese from its own financial resources and also from financial compensation for undistributed property as part of the property settlement.
    Siuda noted that the entire repair will affect the roofs, trusses, towers, facades, windows, doors, and the sculptural decoration of the facade. Inside, the cracked flooring and electrical installation will be completely replaced, and the church will also receive additional lighting and a complete repainting. "The entire building must be completed by July 31, 2015," stated Dagmar Jiskrová, project manager of the diocese.
    After the reconstruction, the church will be open year-round to both worshippers and tourists. In the side aisles of the cathedral, there will be an exhibition mapping the history of the church and the Ostrava-Opava diocese, and guides will be available for visitors.
    "The founding document, which Pope John Paul II established for the Ostrava-Opava diocese in 1996, will be exhibited here. We are also negotiating with the Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum about transferring the oldest bell, which used to hang in the church in Ostrava-Zábřeh," Jiskrová mentioned. Siuda said that artistic projections designed by students of artistic disciplines will be displayed on the windows of the cathedral.
    During the repairs of the cathedral, all worship services and other activities will take place in the oldest church in Ostrava, the original parish church of St. Wenceslaus next to the diocese. More information can be found on the website of the parish of Moravian Ostrava www.farnostmostrava.cz.