History ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** Drahomír Suchánek Theological Faculty, whose successor is today’s Catholic Theological Faculty, was one of f faculties of Studium Generale in Prague. Thanks to the support from archbishop Arnošt of P quickly built up a significant position developed by the activities of capable university foundation deed of Collegium Carolinum from 30th June 1366, established for 12 Masters of that two of them had to be able to lecture theology. In the same year, All Saints College College) was established, which was intended only for theologists and whose seat was in St in Old Town in Prague. With the growing number of students, bigger teaching grounds were n main place for theological lectures were the premises in nowadays Carolinum. After the decline as consequence of the Hussite Wars, the faculty stopped working and theo was restricted to the activities of the individual masters. A change came with the arrival in Prague. In 1562 St Clement’s College was established at Charles Bridge where Jesuit pri comprehensive education (the basis was a five-year secondary grammar school followed by a philosophy course and a two-year theology course). However, St Clement’s College had its o and after the uprising of the Bohemian estates was defeated, when the university was trans in 1622, the dissatisfied archbishop Arnošt Harrach established his own theological semina could not stop the intended unification and starting from 1654 the renewed theological fac Charles-Ferdinand University and it was situated in the premises of Jesuit Clementinum. At the other colleges, except the Jesuit one, ceased to exist. While the buildings of university Carolinum had been dilapidating gradually, Clementinum, generous reconstruction, was turned into a Baroque architectonic dominant providing excell for both teachers and students. In the premises of Clementinum, theology continued to be t the Jesuit order had been abolished (1773), but it had to face a much stricter supervision administration. In the 19th century it also became obvious that the premises and technical Clementinum do not correspond to the needs of the faculty which divided, starting from the 1891/1892, to a Czech part and a German part, despite this split was still refused for sev that by Archbishop Bedřich Schwarzenberg, insisting on the supranational character of Cath Before the World War I started, the theological faculty had been moved from Clementinum to Palace but here the rooms were not suitable either and there was no background for librari Therefore, discussions opened at the beginning of the 20th century concerning a possibilit theological faculty its own building, together with the chancellorship and faculty of law complex of buildings on the Vltava embankment near Čechův most bridge. However, these plans were not implemented and after Czechoslovak Republic had been establi theological faculty could not count with a significant support from the state or universit used the teaching premises in Spálená street, while the Prague archbishop seminar was stil part of Clementinum. This temporary situation was finished by Prague Archbishop František the seminar premises in Clementinum to National and University Library and started the con a new, generously designed building which would provide the background for both the Czech theological faculties as well as premises for educating future priests (a priest seminar) the Roman models. Based on the design by František Havlena and Jaroslav Rossler, a large b constructed between 1925 and 1927 in Dejvice, somewhat away from the places of academic ac former Sadová street, today Thákurova street. Besides teaching and accommodation premises, St Adalbert’s church for the seminar. The dominant feature of the building was a distinct the example of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, under which the seminar chapel was work was completed in 1931 and the archbishop seminar worked there starting from 1928 as i the Clementinum premises earlier. When Czech universities were closed in the 2nd World War, the Czech theological faculty ha activity as well, while the German faculty in Dejvice stayed open until the end of the war of future priests of Prague archdiocese moved to the theological institute in Břežany but professors from the closed faculty were not allowed to teach. After the war, everything go quickly, after the expulsion of Germans, but without the German theological faculty. Howev faculty stayed reopened only for a short time. After being excluded from Charles Universit (1950), it was moved to Litoměřice in 1953 where it worked with many restrictions as Roman Sts Cyril and Methodius Theological Faculty until 1990. In the former Prague building, arm was established temporarily and later it was the main seat of the editorial office of the magazine Problems of Peace and Socialism. Deconsecrated St Adalbert Church was reconstruct and it was used as a conference hall and later as a recording studio. In early 1990s the b returned to Archdiocese in Prague and theological faculty was moved there from its exile i it started to be used as the main place for education of priest candidates from Czech dioc it is open for all students interested in theology and in 2003 its prestigious Institute o History was established there. ****************************************************************************************** * Historical Timeline ****************************************************************************************** *========================================================================================= * 670 YEARS OF TRADITION! *========================================================================================= The history of the faculty can be traced up to the year 973 as it continues in line with t originally administered by the bishopric at the St. Vitus Cathedral. However, it was on Ja when a privilege granted by Pope Clement VI opened the way for the establishment of a Stud in Prague. By the Charter of April 7, 1348, the King of Bohemia and of the Romans Charles university with four faculties (liberal arts, medicine, law, and theology). Since that tim existence has been continual. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1654 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The emperor Ferdinand III. merged Carolinum and Ferdinandeum into a single Charles-Ferdina with four faculties. Theological Faculty and the Faculty of Arts were administered by the archbishop was confirmed as a chancellor, but this function was performed by a rector in p university was supervised by the state and was not related to any particular denomination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1881–1882 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At the culmination of the Czech national political movement, the University was divided in Czech institution. The Theological Faculty remained common to both. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1891 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Because of threatening exclusion from the university the Theological Faculty had to be div Czech and German part. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1918 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Czechoslovakia became an independent state. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1920 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This year marks the end of Charles-Ferdinand University and the origin of Charles Universi German University. Both theological faculties were parts of respective institutions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1929 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The theological faculties of Charles University and German University moved to the new bui Archbishop seminary in Prague-Dejvice built by F. X. Kordač. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1939 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After the Nazi occupation of the Czech Lands, the German University was subordinated to th All Czech institutions of higher learning were closed and their activities were banned unt concerned theological faculties as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1945 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles University was restored; German University was cancelled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1948 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The renewal of free academic life at Charles University was interrupted by the communist c many years to follow, this anti-Church regime subjected education and research to tight id political control. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1950 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Theological Faculty was separated from Charles University, academic staff dissolved an denied further study. Some of the lecturers and students were imprisoned or persecuted in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1953–1990 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Theological faculty and seminary were moved to Litoměřice, Northern Bohemia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1989 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ November and December mark the end of communist totality in Czechoslovakia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1990 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The autonomy of the university was restored and the Catholic Theological Faculty became a University again.