Olomouc has Experienced a Unique Twenty-Four Hour Reading of the Bible

19. 3. 2013

It was sufficient to book a place in advance through the reservation system on the website of the project and to come to the townhall chapel at the given time to read one passage from the Holy Scripture. In 24 hours, the citizens of Olomouc managed to read the whole New Testament. The reading was running continually indeed, till Tuesday 5 p.m. Expert animators were at the disposal of those who came to read. They took care of a smooth and, above all, continuous course of the reading. The event was open also to listeners, who did not take any active part in the reading from the Bible but wanted just to immerse themselves in verses from the Holy Scripture.

On Monday, the festive opening was attended by the mayor of the statutory city of Olomouc - Martin Novotný, the dean of the Church of Saint Moritz in Olomouc - Fr. František Hanáček, and the director of the Czech Catholic Biblical Work - associate professor Petr Chalupa.

"Within many events that take place on the occasion of the Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations in the territory of the whole Czech Republic, one of these events will take place also in our city of Olomouc, in these beautiful premises of the townhall. The twenty-four hour reading from the Holy Scripture is something which is unparalleled in these premises. Following the media these days, it seems that premises of public administration are almost a womb of vice. But today we are bringing here something which has both a spiritual and cultivating character,“ said Mayor Martin Novotný during the opening.

An unusual reading of the Bible was organized within the first year of the Art Performances Paschalia Olomucensia and on the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. Paschalia Olomucensia continues till 24th April and its organizers have prepared a number of concerts in the premises of the churches in Olomouc (the earliest will take place on 25th March in the Church of Saint Michael where Janáček Quartet and Alfréd Strejček will perform), an interesting exhibition titled One Light under the auspices of Jan Budař, which will offer Jindřich Štreit's large-format photographs with the theme of mentally challenged persons and ceramic tiles created by handicapped people, there will be a performance of the Rhapsody Theater, which has rehearsed the legend called El Cristo de la Luz, written by Julius Zeyer, or a microconcert of Jan Budař and Roman Jedlička. The project takes place under the auspices of Mayor of Olomouc Martin Novotný and Archbishop of Olomouc Mons. Jan Graubner.

You can find more detailed information about the program at www. paschaliaolomucensia.cz.