St. Vitus Cathedral gets powerful new voice, unique archive documents thousands of Jews connected to Ostrava, St. Martin in the Wall: one of Prague's oldest churches
The new organ at St. Vitus Cathedral, crafted in Spain and inspired by a Czech natural landmark, is set to be inaugurated in a grand ceremony featuring the Czech Philharmonic and a choir from Catalonia. Funded by a nationwide public campaign that raised over 135 million crowns, the instrument—featuring 96 stops, crystal elements, and pipes ranging from 7 mm to over 7 meters—represents a rare fusion of Spanish craftsmanship and Czech artistic vision. Meanwhile, 89-year-old Libuše Salomonovičová has donated her life’s work: a meticulously compiled archive of 33,000 Jewish individuals connected to Ostrava, preserving stories from the 19th century to 1945. The archive, now housed in Ostrava’s city archive, will aid in citizenship restoration applications and serve as a vital historical resource. In Prague, the Church of St. Martin in the Wall—once a medieval fortress wall and later a converted apartment building—has become a living testament to religious pluralism. With no permanent pastor, rotating preachers, multilingual services, and a vibrant academic community, it stands as one of the Czech Republic’s most unique and open spiritual spaces, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds to its weekly breakfasts, prayers, and concerts.
The new St. Vitus Cathedral organ, built in Spain and inspired by Panska Skala, features 96 stops, crystal pipes, and was funded by 135 million crowns raised through public donations.
Libuše Salomonovičová’s 25-year archive of 33,000 Ostrava Jews—now in the city’s archive—will help determine eligibility for Czech citizenship restoration.
St. Martin in the Wall Church, Prague’s oldest, is unique for having no permanent pastor and rotating preachers from diverse denominations, including Jesuits and Benedictines.
The church hosts multilingual services, including a bilingual international prayer group on the first Monday of each month, open to all visitors.
Czech public broadcasters face unrest over proposed state funding, with staff threatening a warning strike over fears of political interference.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Inauguration of St. Vitus Cathedral's New Organ
“The combination of organ pipes and crystal or glass is unique, and that is what will make our organ exceptional from both an artistic and architectural perspective.”
Legacy of Ostrava's Jewish Community Preserved in Archive
“Today I've handed it all over, around 33,000 Jews passed through Ostrava from the 19th century until 1945.”
St. Martin in the Wall: A Living Church of Openness and History
“This church is quite unique, maybe it's the only church in the Czech Republic that doesn't have a stable pastor or permanent minister.”
Public Broadcasting Funding Reform Sparks Controversy
The Czech government’s plan to replace license fees with state funding for public broadcasters has drawn criticism, with staff threatening a warning strike over political independence concerns.
Social Care Sector Faces Funding Crisis
Over three-quarters of surveyed social care providers received less funding in 2026 despite mandated wage increases, raising fears of staff layoffs and reduced services.
“The combination of organ pipes and crystal or glass is unique, and that is what will make our organ exceptional from both an artistic and architectural perspective.”
“This church is quite unique, maybe it's the only church in the Czech Republic that doesn't have a stable... pastor or permanent minister, speaker or anything like this.”
“And it was one of the first four churches in Prague where this practice began, which was then very typical for the Hasidians that it became even their symbol, the chalice.”
Host
Guests
st vitus cathedral
other
st martin in the wall
other
libuše salomonovičová
person
karol patzowski
person
ostrava city archive
organization
czech government
organization
antonín dvorak
person
czech radio
organization
czech television
organization
emperor joseph ii
person
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