The Sanctus pinnacle of the St. Cosmas & Damian Church in the district called “Na Slovanech” is one of a smaller type in Prague. But it is still a remarkable orientation point thanks to the fact that the church stands on high ground. In addition the church stands on extremely sacred ground.
A parish church, of the farmer Podskalí settlement, used to stand on this place. This church was probably built in a Roman style and consecrated in honour of St. Cosmas & Damian. The story goes that two significant Czech Saints - second Prague Bishop Vojtěch and the founder of the monastery of Sázava, Prokop once said mass there.
The church received its greatest honour in 1347, when Czech King Charles IV invited the Benedictines of the Slovanic liturgy form Croatia to relocate to Prague. It was then that old Slovanic liturgy could be heard from the church for several years until the time when the Benedictines built, in close proximity, their imposing monastery and convent church.
The church’s more recent appearance is a result of Baroque reconstruction which was carried out in 1657-1659. It is a rectangular single-aisle building with a shallow, flat, closed choir and covered with a distinctive ‘hipped’ roof and Sanctus turret. Inside, the smooth walls are divided by ‘piedroits’ and three lunette windows on the side walls. The west facia is broken up with four rectangular windows. The memorial plaque referring to the building’s history is placed outside on the east wall. Let us only add that after the Benedictines reposed the property in 1990 (church and monastery Na Slovanech) they were also given back the church of St. Cosmas & Damian.
The pinnacle on the roof ridge has a classic baroque shape. Its lantern is placed on a low pedestal (both of octahedral shape). The pinnacle’s roof is intensely castellated and finished with a finial.
