Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The cathedral served as the final refuge for the assassins of Reinhard Heydrich, the acting Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.

2. 2

   The seven paratroopers held out for several hours against over 700 Waffen-SS troops before choosing suicide to avoid capture.

3. 3

   The crypt contains a memorial exhibition that details the 'Anthropoid' mission and the support provided by the local Orthodox clergy.

4. 4

   The church was originally dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo and was secularized by Joseph II before being given to the Orthodox Church in 1933.

5. 5

   Bishop Gorazd, who provided sanctuary to the paratroopers, was executed by the Nazis and later canonized as a martyr by the Orthodox Church.

6. 6

   The interior contains a significant collection of religious icons and liturgical items typical of Serbian and Czech Orthodox traditions.

7. 7

   Visible bullet damage on the exterior facade was preserved as a physical record of the intense 1942 gun battle.

8. 8

   The site is the headquarters of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Overview

The Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius is historically significant as the site of the final stand of the Czechoslovak paratroopers involved in Operation Anthropoid during World War II. The building serves as both an active Orthodox cathedral and a memorial museum located in the crypt where the resistance fighters hid. The architecture reflects the Baroque style, having been originally built as the Church of St. Charles Borromeo in the 18th century. In 1942, seven paratroopers, including Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, died here after a prolonged battle against Nazi forces. Bullet holes from the 1942 siege remain visible on the exterior walls of the building. The museum provides an in-depth account of the parachute units trained in Britain and the subsequent Nazi reprisals in the Czech lands. It remains a site of national pilgrimage and active religious worship for the Orthodox community in Prague. The crypt has been preserved to honor the sacrifice of the resistance members.

Insider tips

• Visit the crypt museum first to understand the context of the resistance before entering the upper cathedral space.

• Maintain a quiet demeanor as this is an active place of worship and a memorial to those who lost their lives.

• Look closely at the exterior walls to identify the original bullet holes from the 1942 skirmish.