Churchyard Cross - Odry, Czech Republic - Churchyard Crosses on Waymarking.com

The Church of Saint Bartholomew is the most important monument in Odry. The Apostle Bartholomew became the most honoured popular saint during the mediaeval ages in areas with German inhabitants. Saint Bartholomew, whose festival we celebrate on 24th August, was one of the twelve apostles, he came from Kana in Galilee and was the husband at the wedding at which the Lord Jesus transformed water into wine. Initially he preached in Palestine, then he travelled to Phrygia, Great Armenia and Arabia, he even reached India. He died a martyr’s death in Albania in Albanopolis where he was flayed alive and then beheaded. This took place in the year 71 AD.

The first written information about the church in Odry dates from 1373. The original church was small and naturally wooden, as were nearly all buildings at that time. Construction, repairs and occupation of the rectory was in the hands of the Lords of Odry. There were protestant pastors in Odry during the period from 1530 until 1628, because the reformation was supported by both the Lords of Zvole and also the Pražma family. There is a tomb containing a coffin with the bodily remains of Šebor Pražma of Bílkov, the Lord of Odry, by the main altar. The church and the rectory were heavily damaged during the Thirty Year War. When the Swedes departed, the damages received emergency repairs and there were efforts to execute a plan to replace the wooden church nave with a brickwork one, this work was completed in 1691. In 1964 the Kromeríž builder, Jakub Antonín de Casparido, built the church organ, which cost 400 Rhine gold pieces.

The church also found benefactors who donated six stained windows in the nave. In 1894 the following windows were acquired: “Saint John of Nepomuk“ bearing the inscription “Donated by Mr Jan Gerlich, a freeholder in Odry, in 1894“ and “Saint Josef“ bearing the inscription “In memory of Jan Dr. Josef Gerlich of Odry 1894“, both these windows were donated by Mr Jan Gerlich. The following window was also acquired in 1894: “Beatified Jan Sarkander“, bearing the inscription: “In memory of the Holy Mission in 1894“, which was donated by pastor Eduard Hasner, retired in Odry. Another three windows were acquired in 1895: “Saint Francis“, bearing the inscription “Donated by members of the 3rd order of Saint Francis, 1895“ and “Saint Hedvika“, bearing the inscription “Saint Hedvika, plead for us! Donated by a female benefactor who did not wish to be named in 1895” and “Saint Antony of Padua“ bearing the inscription: “In memory of the 700th anniversary of Saint Antony of Padua“, which was paid for by donations.

In 1902 the church roof was newly covered with English slate. The costs, in the value of 3 781 crowns 80 haler, were covered by the Building Department of the Provincial Government.

Following the Second World War, the former gothic windows in the presbytery, which had been partially bricked up since the Thirty Year War, were renewed during the repair work.

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