News

The Brno Bishop´s Gift for the Pope Benedict XVI

During his visit of Brno on 27th September 2009 the Pope Benedict XVI will receive a copy of a hanging cross which was found near the foundations of the three-aisled basilica from the time of the Great Moravia in the vicinity of Mikulčice, a village near Hodonín.

The silver pectoral cross (from Latin: a cross worn on the chest) with an eyelet represents a figure of Christ on the cross. It is probably the oldest depiction of Christ found in the area of the Brno Diocese. Experts date this small piece of art back to mid-9th century.

Contrary to most of the other later sculptures and pictures Christ is dressed in a priest vestment, which emphasizes his spiritual rule over the world. This iconographic style was created and often used in Byzantine culture. Only in the following centuries depictions of Christ suffering and dying on the cross were spread across West Europe.

During archaeological research in Mikulčice foundations of a number of churches, a prince´s palace, pile bridges, fortifications and burial ground were discovered. Mikulčice was one of the most important centres of the Great Moravian Empire, the first West Slavic state. Constantine (called Philosopher, who later accepted Cyril as his monastic name) and Methodius, the apostles of the Christian faith came to Moravia from Constantinopole in 863 by request of the Great Moravian prince Rostislav. Constantine constructed a script called glagolithic and by translating the liturgical and biblical texts he laid foundations of the Church Slavonic literature. Methodius was appointed an archbishop for Great Moravia and Panonia. In the Middle Ages both brothers became patron saints of Moravia and later also of Bohemia. Today they are patron saints of Europe.

Among various objects found in Mikulčice there was also the cross. The Brno Bishop Mons. Vojtěch Cikrle wears its copy set in the oak wood cross (even the wood comes from the excavations in Mikulčice) on a silver chain as his pectoral cross (sign of the bishop´s office). It was his personal relation to this cross, which led him to the decision to give Benedict XVI the copy of the cross as his personal gift.

The cross is a reminder of the oldest Christian roots of Moravia and also of the Brno Diocese. It is packed in a special case created by Jiří Fogl, an art bookbinder from Žamberk. The case – etui – is in the shape of a book and combines fine materials such as leather, velvet and metal. On the front there is a design of the ground plan of the three-aisle basilica, where the cross was discovered. The texts of dedication and information about the cross in Latin are written on plates from white metal. The concept of the design, in which the Diocese Museum has also participated, adds this small cross appropriate dignity and underlines its spiritual expression and artistic quality. Jiří Fogl´s artistic workmanship guarantees a representative level of this gift.

17. září 2009 | Martina Jandlová