The Plague and Transfiguration Column

This, the eminent sculpture in the city, originated with the Savior cult and great religious pilgrimages. It has stood in its location on the main square for over a quarter of a millenium.

The Plague and Transfiguration Column

Pilgrims thronged to Chrudim to pray at its miraculous painting since the plague epidemic of 1680, and their numbers even increased after the plague hit again in 1713. The community then decided to add a column to honor the Savior, to add to the renown of the miraculous painting, and simultaneously to give thanks that the plague epidemic ended.

Jan Bullu, a relatively unknown Italian artist of Prague, drew the column's design in 1714. The famous architect, Giovanni Santini-Aichel, was also consulted as to the manner of rendition. Work on the sculpture was done by the Chrudim sculptors Jan Pavel Cechpauer and his assistant from Kladsko, Ignac Rohrbach; and by local stonemasons Vaclav Frank and Augustin Petr. The gilded statue depicting the Assumption of Virgin Mary is the work of sculptor Frantisek Pacak.

The Plague and Transfiguration Column

The corner stone was laid and consecrated in 1719, but work progressed slowly because of inadequate funding. The column was completed in 1732.

The appearance of the sculptural group and its immediate environs changed in 1798 when a gilded grating was added, and in 1842, when two fountains were removed from the square.

The emblem of the Holy Roman Empire with the Czech lion holding the letter "C" (for Carolus, then the ruler) is in place above the altar mensal. The gilded statue of the Virgin Mary stands above the emblem.

The Altar

Po stranách stojí sv. Michal, sv. Kateřina a sv. Šebestián. Na výstupcích vyčnívajících ze sloupu jsou svatí: Jan Nepomucký, Vincenc, Dominik, Alois; nad nimi: František z Pauly, Tadeáš, Antonín a František Xaverský.

Morový sloup - současnost,
Autor: Fotoateliér Rudolf Vařejka

St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Sebastian stand at the column's sides. Projections from the column bear statues of saints John Nepomuk, Vincent, Dominic, and Aloysius; above these are Francis of Paul, Tadeus, Anthony, and Francis Xavier.

The main subject of the column, the Transfiguration, is represented by a rock and ascending clouds.

• In front are the Apostles Peter, James, and John
• on the sides are statues of Moses, Elias and angels
• above Christ a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit
• at the pinnacle, God the Father amid angels

Tradition has it that the sculptural group has been erected on the very place where royal chieftain Jan Mestecky, contrary to his given word, had ordered the immolation of Jan Hromadka of Jistebnice, together with two Taborite priests who had been captured in Chotebor. Eight monks of the local Dominican monastery had also been martyred there.