However, this pilgrimage site can also serve as a starting point. The total length of the marked sections in Bohemia and Moravia is over 900 km. It is a well-maintained trail, mostly following the routes of the Czech Tourist Club, accessible all year round and gradually supplemented with thematic information elements. The trail connects important monuments of Slavic culture, pilgrimage sites, monasteries and other culturally, artistically and scenically remarkable places not only in the Czech Republic. It is also evolving in Slovakia, heading through Austria into Italy and on to the Balkan Peninsula, continuing on to Ohrid in Macedonia and Thessaloniki in Greece. Czech-Moravian Route – from Levý Hradec to Velehrad The Czech-Moravian section of the Cyril and Methodius Trail is an attractive combination of spiritual pilgrimage, cultural history and nature tourism. The route is approximately 400 km long and runs from Prague through Posázaví, Vysočina, the Moravian Karst and the Chřiby Mountains to Velehrad. Kostel sv. Klimenta v Levém Hradci | Zdroj: www.peplum.cz Starting point: Levý Hradec near Prague The route begins at the Church of St Clement in Levý Hradec – the oldest stone church in Bohemia, associated with the beginnings of Christianity in our country. This memorial commemorates the early Middle Ages and the beginnings of the cult of St Clement, the pope whose remains were transferred to Great Moravia and later to Rome by the Thessalonian brothers. Route In addition to Prague, the route winds its way around important monastery sites (Sázava, Tišnov), castles and chateaux (Průhonice, Pernštejn), Santini’s architecture in the Vysočina region (Žďár nad Sázavou), sacred sites in the Moravian Karst (Křtiny) and culminates in Chřiby near Buchlov Castle, from where it descends to Velehrad, a key pilgrimage site for the Czech nation. Cyril and Methodius monuments in Prague Along the section meandering through Prague, pilgrims can visit places that refer to the spiritual and cultural heritage of St Cyril and Methodius. From Hradčany, you can walk down to Lesser Town and cross Charles Bridge, then head along the Old Town embankment towards New Town. However, you should not forget to visit Karlín and Vyšehrad. Discover famous and lesser-known monuments related to Cyril and Methodius in Prague. Prague Castle — Cathedral of St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Hradčany view Charles Bridge Staré Město / Malá Strana view Cathedral Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius Nové Město view Emmaus Monastery Na Slovanech Nové Město view Church of St Cyril and St Methodius Karlín view Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul at Vyšehrad Vyšehrad view The Church of St Clement Staré Město view Cathedral of St Clement Staré Město view load the map Okno v katedrále sv. Víta, podle Muchova návrhu, Praha (raná 30. léta 20. století) | zdroj: www.katedralasvatehovita.cz 1. Stained glass window by Alfons Mucha in St Vitus Cathedral During the completion of the cathedral, Alfons Mucha was asked to decorate one of the windows by the Czech bank Slavia. The stained glass window was installed in the north aisle of the church in 1931. The central panel depicts St Wenceslas with his grandmother St Ludmila and scenes from the lives of the Slavic missionaries St Cyril and St. Methodius. The image of the goddess Slavia (the bank’s emblem) is incorporated near Christ. The window is located at the front of the cathedral on the left, in the New Archbishop’s Chapel. Other modern elements of the cathedral’s decoration also deserve the attention of visitors to the church. Come and see for yourself. 2. Cyril and Methodius sculpture on Charles Bridge This pseudo-Baroque sculpture from 1928, the work of sculptor Karel Dvořák, commemorates the arrival of the Slavic missionaries to Great Moravia. In the centre of the sculpture stands St Methodius with a bishop’s crozier, flanked by St Cyril holding Slavic liturgical books. Their firm stance and calm expression reflect the courage with which they spread faith and education. In the background, the inscription “The word of God endures forever” is carved into the stone – a call and a hope for all passers-by. Stop here not only for a nice photo, but also for a moment of reflection. Charles Bridge is not just a tourist magnet, but also an open-air gallery of spiritual heritage. Svatý Cyril a Metoděj, sousoší na Karlově mostě | Zdroj: www.wikipedia.com Zdroj: www.facebook.com/pravoslavnakatedrala 3. Orthodox Cathedral of St Cyril and Methodius in Resslova Street This imposing religious monument is the central cathedral of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and is dedicated to the Slavic missionaries. The Baroque church, designed by K. I. Dientzenhofer and P. I. Bayer, was built between 1730 and 1736. In modern history, it became famous as a place of anti-Nazi resistance during World War II. The memory of the paratroopers who found refuge in the crypt after assassinating Reinhard Heydrich, the acting Reich Protector, in May 1942, is commemorated by an exhibition on the Heydrich affair in the underground rooms. Come and pay tribute to the memory of fallen heroes in the church dedicated to our national patrons. 4. The Emauzy Monastery in Slovany The Emauzy Monastery in Prague’s New Town, founded in 1347 by Czech King Charles IV, combines Gothic architecture with the history of the Byzantine liturgy. The monument refers to the cultural continuity of the Cyril and Methodius mission, as Prague’s Emauzy became a centre of learning, art and Slavic literature in the Middle Ages. The cloisters contain remnants of valuable Gothic wall paintings, and the Church of the Virgin Mary is decorated in the exotic Beuron artistic style. Modern concrete towers with gilded spires have been characteristic features of the building since the 1960s. See for yourself that even a medieval cathedral looks great with a modern sacred architectural makeover. Emauzy | Zdroj: Prague City Tourism 5. Church of St Cyril and Methodius in Karlín The church was built between 1854 and 1863. Thanks to its size, this three-nave Neo-Romanesque basilica ranks among the largest churches in Prague. A public collection was organised for the construction of the church, with contributions from Emperor Ferdinand I the Good and Empress Caroline as well. The success of the collection was also aided by the activities of Marie Riegrová-Palacká and her Ladies’ Committee. The foundation stone of the church was laid on Karlín Square on 10 June 1854 in the presence of the young Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth. The church was consecrated on 18 October 1863, on the millennium anniversary of the arrival of the Slavic missionaries. Come and discover this sacred gem of Karlín. Karlínské náměstí s kostelem sv. Cyrila a Metoděje | foto: Prague City Tourism 6. Mosaic on the Vyšehrad Basilica There is an impressive mosaic depicting Saints Cyril and Methodius on the façade of the Basilica of St Peter and Paul at Vyšehrad in Prague. This work of art, created in the first half of the 20th century based on a design by František Kysela, enriches the overall appearance of the church, which acquired its present form after a neo-Gothic reconstruction in the 19th century. The work was created using the Venetian mosaic technique and stands out for its rich colour scheme and detailed workmanship. Its location on the façade of the Romanesque building is symbolic, as the basilica is situated in a place traditionally associated with the beginnings of Czech statehood and Christianity. This mosaic is one of the distinctive features of the Vyšehrad Basilica. When you arrive at the temple, look up and admire the beauty of this work of art. Bazilika sv. Petra a Pavla Vyšehrad | Zdroj: Prague City Tourism 7. Churches of St Clement There are also three churches in Prague dedicated to St Clement, a saint with deep roots in the Cyril and Methodius tradition. In the heart of the Old Town, in the Klementinum complex, lies the magnificent Baroque Cathedral of St Clement, now the seat of the Greek Catholic Church, which will captivate you with its frescoes by Brandl and sculptures by Braun. Just a few streets away, on Klimentská Street in New Town, stands the neo-Gothic Evangelical Church of St Clement, now shared by the Old Catholic and Anglican communities. If you’re longing for a quiet corner away from the city centre, head to Holešovice, where you will find a hidden treasure – the Romanesque-Gothic Church of St Clement from the 13th century, now part of the Catholic parish of St Anthony. Each of these churches has a different story, style and spiritual atmosphere, but they are all united by their reverence for the same patron saint. Come and discover the beauty of spiritual architecture, find peace or attend a church service. Three different forms of faith – one common name. Katedrála sv. Klimenta v Praze | Zdroj: www.exarchat.cz/katedrala-sv-klimenta/