Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHTS
MUSEUM OF THE INFANT JESUS
OFFLINE MAP
The
Church of Our Lady Victorious
(kostel Panny Marie Vítězné), built in
1613, has on its central altar a 47cm-tall waxwork figure of the baby Jesus,
brought from Spain in 1628. Known as the
Infant Jesus of Prague
(Pražské
Jezulátko), it is said to have protected Prague from the plague and from the de-
struction of the Thirty Years' War. An 18th-century German prior, ES Stephano,
wrote about the miracles, kicking off what eventually became a worldwide cult;
today the statue is visited by a steady stream of pilgrims, especially from Italy,
Spain and Latin America. It was traditional to dress the figure in beautiful robes,
and over the years various benefactors donated richly embroidered dresses.
Today the Infant's wardrobe consists of more than 70 costumes donated from all
over the world; these are changed regularly in accordance with a religious calen-
dar.
At the back of the church is the
museum
, displaying a selection of the frocks
used to dress the Infant; shops in the street nearby sell copies of the wax figure.
Looking at all this, you can't help thinking about the Second Commandment
('Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…') and the objectives of the
Reformation. Jan Hus must be spinning in his grave.
DON'T MISS...
»
Wax figure of the Infant Jesus of Prague
»
Clothing worn by the Infant Jesus
PRACTICALITIES
»
Muzeum Pražského Jezulátka
