Altar of St. John of Nepomuk

Flamboyant altar of St. John of Nepomuk was created by J. Riedel SJ. Antependium is decorated with acanthus with fn-scribed name of St. John of Nepomuk “S / Johanes / NEP”. Rere-dos is surrounded by a frame of leaves and olives, symbolizm? peace. The retabulum contains a bas-relief with a scenę of „Mar-tyrdom and apotheosis of St. John of Nepomuk.” In the lower part of the composition you will see the martyrdom of St. John of Nepomuk. At the behest of the Czech King Wence-slaus IV St. John of Nepomuk was tortured. In 1393, the body of the martyr was thrown to the Vltava River from the Charles Bridge in Prague. Wenceslaus IV was the son of Charles IV and Anna from Piast family of the Dukes of Świdnica-Jawor. There is a legend that at the site where the martyr drowned, five stars ap-peared on the water. To commemorate this event all depictions of St. John of Nepomuk contain a halo consisting of five stars which correspond to the number of letters of the word “TACUI” – silent. The saint was buried in the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague.

In the central place of the altar you will see the apotheosis of the saint. He is depicted in priestly robes (cassock, Rochet, manton, stole and cap). The saint is holding a cross and is float-ing on a cloud to heaven.

On the ledge of a triangular pediment of the altar is an angel pointing to a crane with a palm branch and a stone in its beak – a symbol of constant vigilance against temptation. The second angel puts his finger to his lips, a symbol of silence, here secrecy ofconfession.

St. John of Nepomuk lived in the 2nd half of the fourteenth century. He studied canon law, philosophy and theology. He was a canon in Prague, then generał vicar of John of Jenśtejn, arch-bishop of Prague. As a result of the conflict between King Wenc-eslas IV and Jan Nepomucen who approved the choice of the abbot for the monastery in Kladruby, Nepomuk was imprisoned and executed. A legend has it that the reason for imprisonment was the refusal to disclose a secret of confession of the monarcha second wife, Sophie of Bavaria, whom the king suspected ofinfidelity.

St. John of Nepomuk lived in the 2nd half of the fourteentl, century. He studied canon law, philosophy and theology. He wa a canon in Prague, then generał vicar of John of Jenśtejn, arch bishop of Prague. As a result of the conflict between King Wenr eslas IV and Jan Nepomucen who approved the choice of th abbot for the monastery in Kladruby, Nepomuk was imprisoneH and executed. A legend has it that the reason for imprisonrnent was the refusal to disclose a secret of confession of the mon arch’s second wife, Sophie of Bavaria, whom the king suspected ofinfidelity.

St. John of Nepomuk is one of the most important of Czech saints, the second patron of the Jesuits and the patron saint of good famę. He looks after those who perform work related to water and travelers, protects from flooding. The cult of the saint spread after the death of his captor, Wenceslaus IV (1419). Pope Benedict XIII canonized John of Nepomuk in 1729.

Images of St. John of Nepomuk were present in Jesuit church also because of Jesuits’ sense of connection with the kingdom of Bohemia and the Czech province.