Prague 6 unveils conciliation cross to mark 400 years since the Battle of White Mountain

Prague, Nov 8 (CTK) - A conciliation cross has been unveiled in the Alley of Czech Exiles in the White Mountain neighborhood of Prague 6. It marks the 400th anniversary of the Battle of White Mountain during the Thirty Years' War, which occurred at the location on November 8, 1620.

During the two-hour Battle of White Mountain, the Catholic army of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II defeated rebelling Protestant Czech troops led by Frederick, King of Bohemia. Afterwards, a process of re-Catholicisation began in the Kingdom of Bohemia, which had previously been predominantly Protestant.

The large cross with three-meter-wide arms was create by German Benedictine and artistic smith Abraham Fischer, who previously designed a similar cross to mark the anniversary of German reformer Martin Luther.

The project was sponsored by the nuns of the White Mountain Benedictine Cloister, the Czech Bishops Conference (CBK), the Ecumenical Council of Churches, and Prague 6 Town Hall.

"Thank you for this amazing project and excellent cooperation. It can succeed only if all really want this," Fischer said in his message to guests during today's unveiling ceremony.

A Christian prayer at the White Mountain site preceded the unveiling of the new memorial. The cross was installed there in late October, but only today revealed to the public.

The monument consists of two steel arms and one of titanium. The two rusty arms symbolize hostile sides - the past, pain and no settlement - while the third, clean and blue arm stands for conciliation.

Czech-German Fund for the Future chairman Tomáš Jelínek said on the occasion that the cross should contribute to a better mutual understanding between Czechs and Germans.