Deep in the crypt of the Church of All Saints in Sedlice lies a terrifying monument to human mortality, which has been created over the centuries. A small Roman Catholic chapel adorned with the bones of over 40,000 souls, adorned with bone chandeliers, candelabra made from thighbones, and related coats of arms and monsters.
The ossuary in Sedlice is located on the outskirts of the modern city of Kutná Hora (Czech Republic). Some may find the church of bones creepy or even grotesque, while others see it as a piercing reflection of the belief that the body is only a temporary vessel for the soul, writes Ancient Origins.
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local legends
There is a legend that King Přemysl Otakar II sent ambassadors to the holy city of Jerusalem.
Photo: globeguide.ca
There is a legend that King Přemysl Otakar II sent ambassadors to the holy city of Jerusalem. Those, returning home, brought with them a handful of holy earth from Mount Golgotha and scattered a cemetery on its territory. Thus, it received grace and became quite a popular burial place in Central Europe. Then they began to bring the dead here from Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. However, it became the largest when in the middle of the 14th century a large number of people in Europe were struck by the Black Death – its area increased to three and a half hectares.
To cope with such an influx, in 1511 an ossuary was built here to store the remains of people. Usually they are used when there is not enough space for burial. The body is first left in a temporary grave, and then the remains are placed in a crypt, or ossusary.
The story tells that this task was entrusted to a blind monk who collected the bones and stacked them, thus making room for new ones.
To cope with such an influx, in 1511 an osuary was built here to store the remains of people.
Photo: globeguide.ca
Black Death
A plague broke out in the 14th century. Thousands and tens of thousands of Europeans of that time died from one of the worst epidemics, and their bodies had to be buried quickly. In addition, the Hussite Wars (wars of supporters of the Czech church reformer Jan Hus against the head of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church) flared up at this time, which caused even more deaths.
After a while, the cemetery began to literally burst at the seams. Therefore, later the bones began to be moved to a safe crypt, which was later called Ossuary in Sedlice.
Therefore, later the bones began to be moved to a safe crypt, which was later called the Ossuary in Sedlice
Photo: globeguide.ca
Creepy masterpiece
In the 19th century, the territory, where the cemetery with the Church of All Saints was located, was acquired by Prince Schwarzenberg. He hired the carpenter František Rint to create a new vault decoration under the church. And set to work with all the enthusiasm and creativity.
Rint spent years collecting bones, not just piled against the walls, but creating real masterpieces. He used the bones to decorate the already existing brick and stone structure of the church.
First, the master bleached the bones to give the room a uniform look, and then he was already engaged in the formation of objects and things, in particular, candelabra, altars, coats of arms, and even peculiar garlands.
However, the central chandelier is considered his most incredible work. To make it, Rint took at least one piece of every bone present in the human body.
To make it, Rint took at least one piece of every bone present in the human body.
Photo: globeguide.ca
The “Bone Church” of Sedlice is a unique and at the same time eerie reminder of human mortality and the historical impact of the Black Plague and wars on the European population.
The “Bone Church” of Sedlice is a unique and at the same time eerie reminder of human mortality and the historical impact of the Black Plague and wars on the European population.
Photo: globeguide.ca
The artistic and symbolic use of human bones in the chapel can be seen as a form of memory and a reflection of the belief that the physical body is a temporary receptacle for the soul. Although some may perceive the church as something unhealthy or dismissive and brash, it remains an important cultural and historical landmark in the Czech Republic.
It remains an important cultural and historical monument in the Czech Republic.
Photo: globeguide.ca
Focus has previously written about Scotland’s scariest ghosts. David Weinchok, an expert on Scottish castles, said he estimates there are around 2,000 castles in the country, even if most of them are ruins today.
However, there are many old towered houses still standing, and almost all are often claimed to be home to ghosts, witches, ghostly animals, and all sorts of creepy manifestations.
