- Source: Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral
The Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral (Czech: Svatovítský poklad) is a collection of ecclesiastical treasures of the Prague Cathedral and is in the property of Prague Cathedral Chapter. It is the largest church treasury in the Czech Republic and one of the most extensive in Europe. The Treasure contains more than 400 items, 139 from them have been displayed since 2012 in a new exhibition in the Chapel of the Holy Rood in Prague Castle.
The Treasury includes many holy relics and reliquaries. Famous are the Sword of Saint Wenceslas or Coronation Cross of Bohemia. One of the oldest items in the Treasury is a relic of the arm of Saint Vitus, acquired by Czech Duke Wenceslas (Saint) in 929 from German king Henry the Fowler. Duke Wenceslas built a new church to preserve this relic in honor of Saint Vitus – today St. Vitus Cathedral. The Cathedral and its treasury was richly donated by many rulers, e. g. by Emperor Charles IV or King Vladislaus II.
The Artifacts
Sword of Saint Wenceslas
Helmet of St. Wenceslas
The so-called Comb of St. Adalbert (carving in ivory)
Two rings of St. Adalbert
Skull of St. Wenceslas (used for the cult, not on display)
Skull of Saint Ludmila (used for the cult)
Reliquary with a fragment of the staff of Moses
Nostic Plenary, or Trier Tablet
Reliquary with the finger of Saint Nicholas
Silver reliquary bust of Saint Ludmila
Czech Coronation Jewels (Saint Wenceslas Crown, Renaissance Scepter and Renaissance Apple)
The golden so-called Coronation Cross of Charles IV. with precious stones, gems, and relics of many saints
Crystal altar cross in gold mounting
The Last Supper Tablecloth Crystal Teapot (displayed empty)
Crystal bowl with veil of the Virgin Mary in gold mounting
Tower reliquary of St. Catherine
Tower reliquary with Parler's mark in label
The reliquary arm of St. George
Onyx chalice in gold = mounting, with the coat of arms of Emperor Charles IV.
Veraikon of St. Vitus
The so-called The veraikon in a gold frame is a copy of the Byzantine mandylion
Panel painting of Madonna Aracoeli
Ivory casket for the remains of Saint Sigismund
St. Wenceslas cape with stole
Miter of Saint Adalbert
Skull of Saint Luke the Evangelist (not on display)
Arm with reliquary of Saint Barbara in palm
Arms of Saint Ludmila in a Gothic reliquary
Kolovrat Plenary from 1465
Bust of Saint Adalbert
Bust of St. Wenceslas
Bust of Saint Vitus
Bust of Saint Anne the Third
Arms of Saint Wenceslas in a late Gothic reliquary
Renaissance monstrance of gems, jaspers and crystal,
A set of gold Rudolphine jewelry
Reliquary chest from the tomb of St. Wenceslas
Reliquary for the tongue of St. John of Nepomuk (not on display)
Mitra preciosa of Cardinal Arnošt Harrach
Solar monstrance of Jan Ignác Dlouhoveský
Sun monstrance diamond
Silver Christening set of kettle and sink of Prague Archbishop Jan Josef Breuner
Ferdinand Khünburg's archbishop's scepter with an enamelled Saint Vitus in a medallion
Capitular gold monstrance
Reliquary with crossed branches of St. Stephen
A set of silver shields with relief scenes from the legend of St. John of Nepomuk
A golden set of chalices with a tray and with the Lobkovic clan emblems
Monstrance of the French King Charles X.
Harrach monstrance made of crystal glass
Gold Rose of Empress Maria Anna Habsburg
and many more...
Gallery
References
External links
Media related to Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons
