What does a Tongue do in the Dome of the Pilgrimage Church of St John Nepomuk?
The Baroque Gothic style is a unique, not widely spread strand of Czech High Baroque art which connects the Bohemian Radical Baroque style with Gothic elements; originating in the 18th century. This unique luxury architecture was also used n the construction of the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora in Žďár nad Sázavou.
The unique construction was designed by Jan Blažej Santini-Ajchl, Czech architect with Italian ancestry, after whom he probably inherited his incredible architectural feel and skill.
Number 5 in the main role
The church began to be built in 1719. It is in the shape of a five-pointed star, it is accessible by means of 5 entrances, has 5 altar niches and twice 5 chapels. The number 5 refers to 5 wounds of Christ and also to 5 letters of the Latin word tacui, which translates as "I remained silent". There are also 5 stars in the halo of martyr Saint John of Nepomuk that emerged after his drowning in the Vltava River, according to the legend.
And while we are on about the legends, we need to retell the most essential one, about the tongue!
St John of Pomuk (original name of St. John of Nepomuk) lived during the reign of Wenceslas IV. and became the Archdeacon. However, the Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn had disputes with the king and the consequences had to be borne also by John of Pomuk. He was tortured and thrown into the Vltava River. The year after his death there was a terrible drought, which was regarded as God's punishment and the rumours of John´s bravery began to be spread. It was said that he queen made a confession to him, and since he did not betray it he had to be killed. 300 years after his death his grave was opened and a reddish tissue fell out of his skull. Everyone concluded that it was John´s tongue and so the legend was given more weight!
And so right in the middle of the church on top of the dome you can see a tongue as a symbol of St. John Nepomuk. (In 1973 it was demonstrated that this was a piece of brain with coagulated blood.)
In 1994 the pilgrimage church and the entire surrounding complex is registered in the UNESCO list, and it is visited by thousands of tourists, from the Czech Republic and abroad.
