Hidden within the small Czech village of Luková is a medieval church whose congregation appears to have remained long after the living departed. Beneath its decaying arches, dozens of ghostly white figures sit silently in wooden pews, their bowed heads and draped forms resembling worshippers frozen in prayer. The figures are faceless and hollow, creating the unsettling impression of a congregation that has been waiting for centuries, and may just arise at any moment.
Dating back to the 14th century, the Church of St. George endured centuries of damage, reconstruction and gradual decline. In 1968, part of its ceiling reportedly collapsed during a funeral, contributing to the building’s abandonment. For decades, the church stood largely neglected, but in 2012 it’s transformation began when Czech artist Jakub Hadrava created an installation of 32 plaster ghosts. The sculptures were intended to evoke the memory of the church’s former congregation, particularly the German-speaking inhabitants who once lived in the surrounding region. What began as an art project soon attracted international attention, with visitors’ donations helping to fund the restoration of the church.
The result is a space suspended somewhere between abandonment and preservation. Peeling surfaces, weathered furnishings and rows of motionless figures create an atmosphere that feels like a dream, or to some – a nightmare!
Photo credits: “Kostel Svatého Jiří Ghost Church” by Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0 , “Kostel Svatého Jiří Ghost Church” by Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0 , “Kostel Svatého Jiří Ghost Church” by Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0 , “Kostel Svatého Jiří Ghost Church” by Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0 , “Kostel Svatého Jiří Ghost Church” by Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0
