Located in Brno lies the Capuchin crypt. The crypt lies between the Capuchin Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the neighboring houses. The crypt was founded in the 17th century and holds the mummified remains of capuchin friars, benefactors, a Roman noblewoman, and a famous soldier who helped flourish the church's popularity. Due to the geological composition of the ground and the brilliant ventilation system, the remains beneath the church underwent a natural mummification process. According to the church, approximately 150 Capuchins and about 50 benefactors have been laid to rest here. The church has a vibrant history that has had 140 years of visitation.
Capuchin Burials
The Capuchin Brothers buried their dead with modesty with no specific or grandeur tributes other than simple identifying markers and small symbols of their religious status. They temporarily laid their brothers to rest in a coffin with a sliding bottom so that after the initial ceremonies, the deceased could be laid to rest in the tombs on the bare ground with nothing but a brick underneath the deceased head. The coffin would later be saved for the following deceased. While the dead did not have detailed graves, the capuchins kept detailed records of the living and deceased, which provided an in-depth look into the church's history and allowed the current brothers of the church to remember and honor their dead.
Brothers, Benefactors, and Accidental Burials
Approximately 150 Capuchin brothers are buried within the tomb. The brothers stuck to their view of poverty even after death. They were to be temporarily placed in a reusable coffin and then placed in the tomb on the bare ground. Benefactors were also buried within the tomb, although not all were. Benefactors not only contributed monetarily but also through the donation of holy relics/ art, investments, or church developments. Those who helped selflessly and kindred friendships with the Capuchin brothers contributed significantly to the surrounding area's culture. It was never intentional to create mummies in the crypt, but due to the dry air and the topsoil, the bodies were preserved in a natural state of mummification. Unfortunately, while some were peacefully laid to rest, others were less fortunate.
In some cases, those who were less fortunate were accidentally buried alive. Those who possibly suffered from a coma or paralysis were mistaken for those of the deceased, as back in the day, they were not as understood or studied as they are today. This resulted in accidental burials where those in comas or paralysis were buried alive. In the crypt is an inscription in Czech that translates to "As you are now, we once were; as we are now, you shall be." This is a message to those who visit the tomb.
The Roman Noblewoman Reliquary
Before paying respects to the deceased in the tomb, one must pass the Roman Noblewoman ST. Clementine. Not much is known about her exact identity, but it is believed that the relic dates back to 1762, and the woman in the coffin was a martyr during the early Christian period. Her bones are fixed in the position shown with wax and a wax mask with glass eyes over her face. A vial inside the coffin reportedly contains her blood as well. The coffin originated from the Roman catacombs but was donated to the Capuchins in 1754.
František Baron Trenck
The popularity of the church boomed with the passing of the famous commander František Baron Trenck. František (Franz) Baron Trenck was a soldier under the command of the Empress Maria Theresa as a revered commander of the Pandurs. He was known for his brutality and leadership. He was eventually arrested and put on trial for several crimes, where he received the death sentence. Empress Maria Theresa, however, wished for him a lesser sentence, so the trial was resumed, and he received his final verdict of life in prison. During this time in prison, he meets Capuchin Koloman, a priest and philosophy lecturer, where he repents for his wrongdoings. Before his death, Trenck wrote his will, in which he left four thousand guilders to the Capuchin brothers and wished to be buried next to them on the bare ground. His remains were later transferred to a coffin that can now be visited in the Capuchin tomb. After his death, visitors came from all over to see his burial, causing the church's popularity to skyrocket.
Trenck’s Missing Thumb.
At some point, one of the Trenck's thumbs was missing. No documentation shows who, where, when, or why the thumb appeared missing. Reports show that the thumb reappeared in 1880 when Trenk's finger was displayed in the Franciscan Museum. It is speculated that the thumb arrived at the museum as part of a collection donated by Trenk's great-nephew Jindřich von Trenck, who in earlier years tried to move Trenk's remains to his family tomb but failed. At the Capuchin brothers' request, the thumb was eventually returned to its rightful owner, which now rests beneath the glass coffin.
Written by Pressley Reeve
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Ugc. (2009, June 26). The Czech’s Capuchin Crypt. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/czechs-capuchin-crypt