New church building, Prague's first in 10 years, consecrated in Barrandov today

Prague, Nov 22 (CTK) - A new church dedicated to Christ the Saviour has been built at the Barrandov housing estate in the southwest of Prague. It's the first new church building in the Czech capital in ten years, and was consecrated by Prague Archbishop Cardinal Dominik Duka earlier today.

Modern religious projects tend to appear on the outskirts of Prague, where where the population has increased in recent decades.

Only bishops, priests and the Archbishopric's civilian staff were present at the consecration ceremony today. Organisers previously called on believers to stay at home due to the coronavirus epidemic, and watch the event live online or on television.

Only a few dozen spectators came to the consecration, but stayed outside the church and watched the indoor events on screens, keeping social distance. In the afternoon, people could enter the church individually to pray.

The church was built in a the minimalist style designed by architects Jakub Žiška and Pavel Šmelhaus. It includes a community center with a hall to host concerts, lectures, and exhibitions, a library, a cafe, a children's corner and playground.

The church building has simple geometric shapes and white walls, matching the prefab houses in its surroundings. It is situated close to a forest and the Prokopské údolí valley, a popular walking destination for Praguers.

It is a single-nave church with a distinct entranceway and a tower with bells. Its interior was equipped with liturgical elements by sculptors Petr Váňa and Stanislav Kolíbal, who also attended the ceremony today.

The project cost 150 million crowns, a third of it being covered by the Prague Archbishopric. A number of private donors also contributed. Some of them invested all their savings in the project, priest Josef Ptáček said.