The Church of St. George comes alive day and night in the Czech Republic, 200 kilometers from Prague, in the little town of Lukova, owing to spectral manifestations. These plaster ghosts, draped in white, are the creation of student Jakub Hadrava. The church, erected in 1352, has been brought back to life thanks to a campaign initiated in 2012 by Lukova local Petr Kouk. It was abandoned in 1968 after the roof fell during a burial.
After this catastrophic tragedy, the town has chosen to discontinue all activities relating to the possibly haunted church. This pivotal time in the village’s history will inspire Jakub Hadrava. The third-year student at Praha’s Fine Arts Academy repopulates Saint-Georges with all of the church enthusiasts who were there before the collapse. Over the past eight years, Jakub Hadrava’s installation has drawn both residents and visitors. With a total of 23,500 euros raised, the rebuilt roof allows for the organization of concerts as well as masses. The Czech church’s existence, long defined by death and ghosts, appears to be taking a bold move towards life.
Jakub Hadrava’s artwork consists of 20 plaster figurines placed around Saint George’s Church. Jakub Hadrava uses sophisticated drapery games to animate his sculptures that officiate or worship.
Occasionally you come upon an abandoned location that is so scary that you can’t help but examine more. One of those locations is this church in the Czech Republic. St. George’s Church, Kostel Svathéo Jir, was completed in 1352, but a succession of fires over the centuries have left it severely damaged.
The church was eventually abandoned in 1968 after the roof collapsed during a funeral, prompting the superstitious crowd to flee as swiftly as possible. They’d long suspected the structure was haunted, and this final act of devastation proved it.
Jakub Hadrava, a sculpting student, chose to erect a tribute to the region’s hard existence decades after the ceiling collapsed in and the property was stolen. He erected ghostly sculptures that resembled the folks who not only constructed, but also worshiped at the chapel. Visitors to the haunted church have given enough money to repair the roof and structural issues with the edifice.
Lukova is a tiny town located two and a half hours from Prague, the capital city. This town has a population of just 708.
And the 14th-century St. George Church is located at the summit of the hill in the settlement of Lukova.
The frightening white creatures sit silently in the seats, assemble around the altar, and even stand in the entrances of the church. The church was let to deteriorate, and even if the community wanted to rescue it, they had the money to do it.
In 2012, a local artist named Jakub Hadrava constructed 32 life-sized “ghosts” to reside within the church, transforming life in this little village. For the creepy look, Hadrava employed his classmates as models, wrapping them in sheets and producing plaster casts.
At first sight, it appears like there are genuine individuals present. The closer you approach, the creepier it becomes.
The ghost statues depict the Sudeten Germans, also known as German Bohemians, who used to inhabit in the region. The Sudeten Germans were ethnic Germans who were driven out of the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) following World War II. There were thought to be up to 3 million Sudeten Germans in the Czech Republic, who were evicted and relocated to Germany and Austria.
The tourists contributed 600,000 koruna, or about $26,000, for upgrades.
While most tourists are delighted to see the ghosts, according to church keeper Petr Koukl, two or three people refused to enter. And it’s easy to understand why. It’s incredibly terrifying, and just looking at it gives everyone shivers.
Until recently, the church has been open every Sunday, with the “ghosts” visible through the window.