Religion in the Czech Republic has a long history. Various faiths are represented in the republic. Among them are those that have become widespread among local residents, and those that do not go beyond the diasporas.
History of religion in the Czech Republic
The Reformation led to the weakening of the Catholic denomination in the Czech Republic. She brought with her numerous interfaith strife, which adversely affected the dominance of the dominant religion. In addition, a very serious role fell on the shoulders of the so-called Hussites, who were actively developing their ideology in the 15th century. At that time, the Czechs rebelled against the ideological discrimination of Catholicism.
In the Czech Republic at that time, power belonged to the Germans, who, in turn, invited priests of their faith for a missionary purpose. This largely affected the spread of Protestantism, which influenced the formation of both the Czech language and Czech culture and literature.
The movement of the followers of Jan Hus was broken by the Habsburgs (German dynasty). The Habsburgs carried out many public executions, forced relocation of people on a religious basis. The rebellion against Catholicism occurred in the nineteenth century. Everyone was accused of the prevailing unfavorable confessional situation of the Habsburgs.
When the Czech Republic regained its independence, society began to turn its backs on the dogma of the church and adhere to atheism. This trend continued during the Second World War, and further - during the reign of communist ideology on the lands of the Czech Republic. The Communists sought to completely abolish the church, isolate this social institution from society.
What is the most popular religion in the Czech Republic?
The most popular Roman Catholic Church in the Czech Republic is divided into two components, each of which is headed by an archbishop. There is also a military vicariate who works in the Czech army. Together with the bishops, the Apostolic Exarchate of Catholics, who has the status of a legal entity representing the entire Catholic Church in the Czech Republic, is at the head.
Due to its massive nature, the Roman Catholic Church is the only church in the Czech Republic whose structure operates throughout the country. The Czech Catholic faith is the largest religious organization in this country. The Catholic Councils and Congregations of the Roman Catholic Church run several primary and secondary schools and ultimately participate in the leadership of the three theological departments of state universities.
The Roman Catholic Church professes Christianity - the main religion of the Czech Republic. According to the census, 1,083,899 people (10.26%) consider themselves adherents of the ideas of the Roman Catholic Church. According to statistics, four percent of the population attends Sunday service. The largest number of Catholics is in the region of South and Central Moravia, the smallest percentage is in North Bohemia.
Orthodoxy
The Orthodox Church appeared in the Czech Republic in 1921, when Bishop Matei Pavlik consecrated a small Orthodox community in the state. The denomination consisted mainly of people who turned their backs on the Roman Catholic Church and the Catholics of the Byzantine rite. Later, part of Pavlik’s supporters separated and turned to the Protestants.
During World War II, the Orthodox Church was persecuted by the Nazis. The Nazis executed many priests. Pavlik himself assisted the assassins of Reinhard Heydrich, which caused a negative reaction from the government. Matei Pavlik was executed. However, he was canonized by the Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1987.
After the collapse of Czechoslovakia, in 1993, the church was divided into two metropolitan provinces (Prague and Bratislava), which were combined in one synod. Christians in the Czech Republic are approximately 50,000 believers, and in Slovakia - about 75,000.
Islam
If we consider the religions of the Czech Republic, the country of this Islam is in the minority. The approximate number of Muslims in the Czech Republic is about 22 thousand (about 0.2% of the population). Almost all Muslims are Sunnis.
Islamic centers are located mainly in Prague and Brno, as well as in Teplice, Hradec Kralove, Liberec, Karlovy Vary. They have libraries where general reading of the Qur'an, Arabic lessons and children's programs are held. Their representatives also help in refugee camps and, as far as possible, provide spiritual care to the legates and convicted Muslims.
Other religions
Czech religion also implies other faiths. One of the largest is Protestantism, whose supporters are approximately fifty thousand people. Other faiths come to the Czech Republic together with representatives of different cultures. However, their religions, as a rule, do not attract indigenous Czechs and Slavic immigrants. Many are atheists, caused by communist persecution of the church in the past.
In the Czech Republic there are many Christian denominations and many others. They do not oppose each other, but coexist peacefully.