Memorial Action June 21, 2004

June 21, 2004

The Memorial Action was held under the aegis of VÁCLAV KLAUS, the president of the Czech Republic, supported by Pavel Bém, the Premier Mayor of Prague and Vladimír Vihan, the Mayor of the city ward Prague No. 1.

T. G. Masaryk, the first president of the Czechoslovak Republic

T. G. Masaryk's Telegram to the anniversary of 300 years after the Execution:

Capri June 18, 1921

Recently, during the funeral of legionaries we bowed to the memory of the last, today the nation gives a tribute to the ashes of the first of the file of victims that the political and national violence requested.
Our liberation lets wash away the blood of both, the reason of their suffering lets be our alert.

On both these gravestones I write the same epigraph: The Truth Wins!

T. G. Masaryk

View to Castle of Prague and Charles

T. G. Masaryk to the Period after the White Mount Battle and to the Execution of 27 Brave Representatives of the Czech Estate Revolt:

“Some dynasties in Germany (Roman Empire) have although some credits of culture but the Hapsburgs were from our sight always extraneous in politics and culture, even hostile to us…

Three hundred years ago, after the White Mount Battle, the Hapsburgs confiscated three quarters of land of these who were against the dynasty; they divided the land to foreigners from the whole world. Their opponents from Bohemia, Czechs and Germans, were executed, their heads putrefied for a long time nailed on the Charles Bridge Tower to terrify others.

Every time when I am passing around I see their skulls in my mind. That time also Comenius was evicted, thirty thousands families, i.e. about 150000 people were forced out to Saxony, Prussia, America — of course, the best; weaklings cringed as usually.”

Emil Ludwig: The Mind and the Deed (Duch a čin), Talks with Masaryk, Prague 1935, pp. 100–101.

Old Town Square, Prague, June 21, 1621

Do We Learn from the Tragic History of Our Nation?

Do we have an expectancy that the membership in EU will strengthen and deepen the worthies that the Representatives of the Estate Revolt strived for: the conscience and confessional freedom, toleration?

At the Second Vatican Council cardinal Beran noticed the unlucky results of the oppression of the counter-reformation after the White Mount Battle and after the 27 Representatives of the Estate Revolt Execution.

That time the Protestant representatives had to leave the land for exile, among them J. A. Comenius as well. The dependants were by a violence forced to assume the Roman Catholic belief. Those who retained their belief in secret were chased with cruelty.

This report of cardinal Beran drawn from our historical experience was an important impulse to accepting of the Conscience and Confessional Freedom Decree during the Second Vatican Council.

The assembly of the “Synod of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church for Europe” with the papal agreement clearly proclaimed that the program of the “New Evangelisation” “is not the program of the restoration of the old times in Europe” (i.e. the restoration of the political authority of Churches that controlled the public life of the whole society).

Considering this mentioned standpoints of the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church (such as cardinal Beran and the Synod of Bishops) we have to say that the efforts to the re-erection of the Marian Column at the Old Town Square will be in the absolute contradiction with these standpoints.

The column was built as a symbol of the victory of the counter-reformation connected with violence concerning belief and conscience and as a symbol of the program of the recatholization of Europe.

In the interest of truth and credibility of the Christian tradition we peremptory refuse the return of the column.

Prof Dr Josef Smolík

The Invitation

to the meeting of piety

Is held
under the aegis of VÁCLAV KLAUS, the President of the Czech Republic

on Monday June 21, 2004 at 18 o'clock
in the St Nicholas Church at the Old Town Square

Program

Opening Talk and a word to the anniversary: — Mgr. Jan Židlický, CHC
Word of the deputy of the Czech Association of the Freedom Fighters and Czechoslovak Community of the Legionaries — Anděla Dvořáková, the chairman of CAFF
Short talks of deputies of regions: Prof Jan Havránek — On Václav Budovec of Budov
— Dr Anna Rauerová — On Fridrich of Bílá

Greeting and Introducing of the offspring of the Executed

Concert

Gentlemen's Choir of Prague — Kryštof Harant of Polžice: The Oldest Czech Chorals
Magda Bělohlávková, soprano — Antonín Dvořák: Arias from the Bible's Songs
Jan Bernátek, organ — J. S. Bach: Adagio
— G. Frescobaldi: Fugue g-minor

Moderator: Mgr. Jan Židlický, CHC
Plays: The Orchestra of the Army of Czech Republic

Putting flowers to the Memorial Board of the Executed

in front of the Old Town Hall with talks of delegates of some corporations

The Memorial Meeting is held by: Unity of Constance, Historical Society VERITAS, Czechoslovak Hussite Church (CHC) in Prague, offspring and relatives of the Executed at the Old Town Square and admirers of their legacy, Masaryk's Corporation, CAFF and CCL. With a help of: Slavonic Board of the Czech Republic, Sokol, Scouts etc.

Voluntary entrance fee