Spreading of Benedictine order

Alone Benedict hasn’t knowingly spread his religion, except for monasteries, which he had established himself (14). Monks following Benedictine rule had however spread quickly to whole Europe, especially therefore, that they were acting like a missionaries. In 9th century Benedictines were the only order, because of the fact that practised monastic life in the whole western Europe except for Scotland, Wales and Ireland, where Celtic customs persisted for another two hundred years.

The Benedictine order had never been so strong in the Eastern countries as in the west. At any rate Czech and Poles are partially bound to Benedictine missionaries for their transition to Christianity.

Benedictines in Bohemia

The Beginning of the church orders in our country are linked with propagation of Christianity in early Middle Ages during reign of the Přemyslides.

The Convents

In the early 70’s of the 10th century prince Boleslav II founded cloister of Benedictine nuns at the st.Georges on the Prague castle - the very first cloister in our country. The firts abbess was Boleslav‘s sister Mlada.

Another convents of Benedictine nurses were founded around the year 1160 in Teplice and in 40’s of 14th century in Moravian Pustiměř and in the Old city of Prague. Only the st.Georges cloister survived the 16th century, however in 1782 was closed down. In 1889 the Monastery of Beuronian Benedictine nuns at st.Gabriel in Prague at the Smíchov part, was founded however this was abandoned after year 1918 and since the time Benedictine nurses hasn’t been working in our country.

The Monasteries

Prague – Břevnov = the first male Benedictian monastery in our country, it was also set by Boleslav II with bishop st.Vojtěch in 993. In 1322 there was build a provostry in Broumov, which has became place of refunge for people from Březnov at time of Hussite wars. Present form of Břevnov is from years 1818-20, architects were K.&K.I. Dientzenhofers, P.Brandl and P. I. Bayer.

In year 1950 Břevnov monastery was cleared out by STB (National Security), monks were transported to Broumov and activity of convent was prohibited. From 1990 gradual reconstruction began of the monastery.

Other Czech Beneditine monasteries developed below direct fluence of monastery in Baravian Niederaltaich.

Cloister on island near Davle was set in 10th century ; it was plundered several times and burnt, there were many intensions to reconstruct it till 1517, when convent resettled to close st. John‘s Provostry unther the based around year 1310. In 1785 convent was closed down, monastery‘s campus was bought by count Špork and he had installed textile manufactury here.

Cloister in Opatovice nad Labem was erected between 1086 and 87, and it was subordinated to monastery in Břevnov. In year 1421 it was burnt by Hussites and monks had never returned here. In 1535 last abbot from Opatovice died and history of monastery ends.

Cloister in Sázava was founded in 1032 by st.Prokop. The Old Church Slavonic liturgy was breed here, however in 1096 it was replaced by Latin liturgy, Old Church Slavonic monks were driven out and replaced by Bendictines from Břevnov. Cloister was cracking up and in 1746 burned down. However baroque reconstruction according to K.I. Dientzenhofer was performed.
In 1785 the emperor Joseph II closed the cloister down. Since 1951 is in property of state.

Cloister in Třebíč was placed in year 1101 by Moravian Přemyslides.

Cloister in Rajhrad near Brno was founded by prince Břetislav in 1048 as provostry subordinated to Březnov, in the time of Hussites wars it was a place of refuge for Břevnov monks. In 1813 provostry in Rajhrad was promoted to detached abbey.
After 1950 local monks were diffused and in cloister military warehouse was installed. In 1957 cloister was settled again by religious monks and proceed his slow reconstruction.

Cloister in Kladruby was founded by prince Vladislav I with his woman Richenza from Berg. In 1711 began reconstruction according to project of J.B.Santini and it was completed after year 1756 on schedules of K.I. Dientzenhofer.. In 1785 cloister was shutted down by Joseph II. And after purchase by prince Q.Windischgratze was changed into mansion.

Cloister in Vilémov was founded in 1121 by counts Heřman and Vilém from Sulzbach, in 1421 it was destroyed by Hussites. In 1541 in Rajhrad died the last abbot from Vilémov – Peter.

Cloister in Postoloprty was set between 1119 and 1121. In 1420 it was burnt by Hussites and it wasn’t renovated again. Monks had gone to Benedictine cloister in saxon Kamenice.

Cloister in Podlažice was placed in year 1160.

Broumov – in 1213 Přemysl Otakar I gave him to Benedictines from Břevnov and before 1322 he developed there provostry subordinated to Břevnov.In Hussites times it was place of refuge Břevnov‘s monks (abbey Břevnov had two residences). In 1939 both monasteries isolated were. Present Broumov form comes from 18th century, when Břevnov and Broumov were restructured by K. I. Dientzenhofer.

Cloister Na Slovanech (Emauzy) was founded in 1347 by emperor Charles IV as monastery with Slavonic liturgy. In 1426 majority of monks had to go away and in Emauzy utracvistic consistory was installed. In 19th century monastery was destroyed... In 1880 some monks came there. They were driven out of German convent Beuron and they decorated monastery in own romantic revival fashion, also called Beuron art school.

In 1950 monastery was cleared out, after year 1990 monks from Emauzy had lived in Břevnov and in 1995 they moved back .

Beside monasteries have here existed provosteries, too – filial houses subordinated to individual abbeys, for example in Police nad Metují, Kostelec nad Vltavou, Klášterská Lhota, Přelouč, Komárov u Brna, Klášterec nad Ohří.