The Orthodox Cathedral of St. Cyril and Methodius in Resslova Street
The site of the present cathedral on the corner of Resslova street and Na Zderaze was originally that of a Romanesque church of St. Clement, which was part of a Dominican monastery. Today’s Baroque temple was erected in its stead later on the basis of the design of Kilián Ignác Dienzenhofer. In the thirties of the 20th century it was acquired by the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church and at the time the consecration was changed, St. Carolus Boromeus was replaced by St. Cyril and Methodius. It was proclaimed a cathedral in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.
The church played an important role in World War II, when the assassins of the Reich’s Protector Reinhard Heydrich, shot on May 27th 1942, took refuge. However their hiding place was betrayed and on June 18th 1942 the church was surrounded by Nazis and all seven men died during the ensuing gunfight; they kept the last bullets for themselves. One can still see the bullet holes in the exterior wall of the crypt today.
