In the middle of Prague’s Old Town, lies the Kostel Sv. Jakuba Vetsiho (Church of St. James the Greater). The church is considered to be the most beautiful and valuable church in Prague. It is known to be the second largest church in Prague, but it is also known to be one of the scariest places in Old Town.
The, once gothic, church was originally built in the 13th century, but after a band of anti-Habsburg French arsonists tore through town the church was destroyed, burning down with over 700 houses. While some believe the fire was started by those working for King Louis XIV of France, there is no direct evidence to support that claim.
Although it took 50 years, the church was rebuilt, this time in the baroque style. The interior boasts elaborate vaulted ceilings, frescoes by Frantisek Voget depicting the life of Mary and the Holy Trinity. The west end facade features reliefs illustrating the life of St James, with St Anthony of Padua on his left, and St Francis of Assisi to his right, sculpted by Ottavio Mosto of Padua in 1695. The church boasts more than twenty alters and a world-famous organ, the case by Abraham Stark of Loket, dates back back to 1705
Also within the church, you will find the tomb of Count Jan Václav Vratislav of Mitrovic, designed by J.B. Fischer von Erlach.
The Count was born into a noble family of Bohemia. He studied law and practiced all through Europe until he got involved in politics. He served as a member of the chancery of the Austrian court in 1695, worked as a diplomat in London and The Hague where he participated in the formation of the alliance against France, and was even one of the signatories of the Treaty of The Hague. He befriended Prince Eugene of Savoy, often giving him advice in foreign affairs. He was made Chancellor of Bohemia after the death of Emperor Leopold I died in 1705. He had a magnificent career until he died of dropsy (also known as edema, or fluid retention) on December 21, 1712.
His tomb was perhaps the greatest memorial in the church. It was carved to depict weeping women, angels, and a pieta-likeness of the count on top. A genuinely grand monument to the man who had accomplished so much. But it came to be known for something else entirely.
The day the Count was laid to rest, many came to pay their respects. After the funeral, noises could be heard coming from within the tomb. The noises were horrible and dreadful, and they worried for him. Believing the noises were being caused by his restless soul, unable to find peace, they did what they could to help him; they sprinkled the tomb with holy water, and they prayed. They prayed until the noises eventually stopped.
Had the Count’s soul finally found peace? We can’t say for sure, but what we do know is this: Years later, when the church was being renovated, workers opened his tomb. Inside, they found his coffin damaged, and his remains outside. The Count had been buried alive and managed to free himself from his coffin, but could not escape the tomb. To this day, it is believed that the ghost of the Count still resides in the church.
While you can say “ghosts aren’t real,” I wonder if you can refute this next story.
Some 400 years ago, a homeless man entered the church, looking to escape the cold. Looking around, he saw a bejewelled statue of the Virgin Mary. Knowing the stones in the statue could change his life, he decided to hide in the church until night, when he would take the jewels and run.
The church was locked for the night and he moved carefully through the darkness, toward the statue. He reached out, ready to take the jewels, but what he received was something far less expected.
The statue, the Virgin Mary, grabbed his arm and held him tight. She refused to release her grip, and he was stuck there until morning. When the parishoners arrived the next morning, they found him, held tight and still screaming.
Despite their efforts, the Virgin Mary refused to release her grip. They had no choice, but to amputate. Whether by good fortune, or simple luck (if you’d call it that), many of the churchgoers were also members of the local butcher’s guild. They had the tools, and did what had to be done. Once the arm had been severed from the thief, the Virgin Mary relaxed her grasp and returned to her natural state. The arm fell to the ground.
The arm was thrust onto a meat hook, and then hung near the entrance, as a warning to any would-be thieves. To this day the arm, now mummified, remains hung for all to see.
Next up: The Most Haunted Hotel in America
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