Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral: A Testament to Courage

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, located in Prague's Nové Město (New Town), holds a significant place in Czech history and Orthodox Christian faith. Originally built as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo in the 18th century by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer and Pavel Ignác Bayer, it was later deconsecrated and used as a military depot. In 1921, it was given to the newly formed Czechoslovak Orthodox Church and reconsecrated as the Cathedral of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. The church is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, two Byzantine missionaries who significantly influenced Slavic culture and are credited with creating the Glagolitic alphabet. According to oral tradition, the site was once home to a small church built by Duke Bořivoj I and dedicated by St. Methodius himself. The cathedral is best known for its role in Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi official, in 1942. Czech and Slovak paratroopers, trained by the SOE, carried out the assassination and sought refuge in the cathedral's crypt. After being betrayed, they were besieged by the SS. Rather than surrender, the paratroopers fought bravely until they were either killed or committed suicide. The crypt now houses the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, commemorating their sacrifice. Visitors can see bullet holes preserved in cement as a reminder of the fierce battle. The bravery of the paratroopers and the subsequent retaliation by the Nazis had a profound impact on the Czech people. The Orthodox Church was banned, and many who aided the paratroopers were executed. Today, the cathedral stands as a symbol of resistance and a reminder of the cost of freedom.