Johannesburg: SiltaNews – News Desk
Perched atop Zelená Hora – “Green Hill” – near the town of Žďár nad Sázavou in the Czech Republic, the Church of St. John of Nepomuk stands as a radiant testament to spiritual devotion and architectural genius. Though modest in size, this pilgrimage church commands global reverence for its symbolic complexity and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Constructed in the early 18th century, the church was commissioned by the Cistercian monastery in Žďár and designed by Jan Blažej Santini Aichel, a Czech architect of Italian descent renowned for his mastery of the Baroque Gothic style. Santini’s work here is a rare synthesis of Gothic verticality and Baroque dynamism, infused with deep numerological symbolism.
The church’s layout is based on the number five, a reference to the five stars said to have appeared above the body of St. John of Nepomuk after his martyrdom. This motif recurs throughout the structure: five-pointed stars, five chapels, five entrances, and a central floor plan shaped like a five-pointed star. The result is a sacred geometry that evokes both divine order and mystical transcendence.
St. John of Nepomuk, canonized in 1729, is venerated as a protector against floods and a symbol of silence and integrity. He was drowned in the Vltava River under orders from King Wenceslaus IV for refusing to divulge the queen’s confessions. His cult spread rapidly across Central Europe, and the church on Zelená Hora became a focal point for pilgrims seeking intercession and spiritual clarity.
There are four architectural features:
•Vaulted ceilings that soar with Gothic grace, yet curve with Baroque fluidity.
•Star-shaped floor plan that merges mathematical precision with theological symbolism.
•Circular cloister surrounding the church, echoing monastic serenity and cosmic unity.
•Light-filled interior, where windows and niches are arranged to create a celestial ambiance.
Despite its remote location, the church’s design defies provincial expectations. It is not merely a place of worship – it is a metaphysical diagram rendered in stone. In 1994, the Church of St. John of Nepomuk was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its “exceptional architectural quality and symbolic content.” UNESCO praised Santini’s ability to merge Gothic and Baroque traditions into a unified spiritual expression, making the church a singular achievement in European sacred architecture.