Library Time

I decided to go spend some time in the library - the Strahov Library that is! This is a pretty amazing library located in the Strahov Monastery overlooking the old city of Prague. It was founded in 1140 A.D. and its name means "guarding place."

They had a little trouble at first maintaining proper library procedures. There was a big fire in 1258, the Hussite warriors were a bit nasty in the 1400s, and the Swedes decided to check out a few books after they invaded Prague in 1648 at the end of the Thirty Years War. I wonder what their late fees are!

There are two halls in the library, both with frescoed ceilings. The first is the Theological Hall, built in 1679.

This is a book turning machine. You can use a number of books all at once and simply by turning the handle move from one book to the next. I'm not sure why they don't install these in libraries today.


Shhhh...he's trying to sleep!

The second hall is called the Philosophical Hall and was added later because of the growing collection. It holds 50,000 books.

These are books about different trees. Each book is bound in the bark of the tree that it describes.

These are just ordinary old books.

Kutná Hora - A Walk Around Town

The old city of Kutná Hora was delightful. Pastel buildings greeted you around each corner along the winding streets. Light snow was falling...and I was cold walking outside all day!

I suspect that a paint job is the least of their worries.

We had lunch in what felt like a Medieval Czech restaurant. Four of us shared a wooden bowl filled with saddle of wild boar, deer meatloaf, sausage, mushroom stuffing, roasted potatoes, potatoe pancakes, and gingerbread dumplings with cranberries.

And the most amazing cat walk I've seen, complete with a second story entrance!

Kutná Hora - Church of Saint Barbara

The Church of Saint Barbara in Kutná Hora rivals St. Vitus in Prague. Construction began in 1388, but was not finished until 1905. It is quite amazing!

The vaulted ceilings give a profound sense of the transcendence of God.

I really like stained glass windows. I took a picture of every one...just because I could.

This is the pulpit for all those "aspiring" preachers!

Behind the altar was the most amazing tree.

And of course, the organ.

Kutná Hora - The Bone Church

I was a part of a group of six students from IBTS who traveled one hour by train to a town east of Prague called, Kutná Hora. We spent the day walking around the town. The first stop was the Kostnice Ossuary, or what I call the Bone Church. This is a chapel built in 1511 to house bones that began to pile up after the plague. In 1870 František Rint was given free reign to do whatever he wanted with the bones from about 40,000 people. He went wild!

You go down into the chapel and suddenly the phrase, "heads up," takes on a whole new meaning!

This chandelier contains every bone in the human body!

I was reminded of Gimli in Peter Jackson's version of the "Return of the King" for some reason.

This guy had far too much time on his hands!

Back in Prague!

This blog is turning into more of a travelog than an insightful blog about deep thoughts. Perhaps that may come yet...

Here is a different perspective on Prague. Behind IBTS (International Baptist Theological Seminary) is a beautiful valley - just minutes outside the city. I went for a walk yesterday.