Knights of the Cross with the Red Star
The Order of Knights of the Cross with the Red Star (lat. Ordo militaris Crucigerorum cum Rubea stella -. OCr, tschech. Rytířský řád křižovníků s červenou hvězdou ) developed in the 13th century from a brotherhood, which looked charitable tasks in the Czech capital, Prague. This Brotherhood was founded in 1233 by the Saint Agnes of Bohemia, a member of the royal family, to the church of St. Kastulus ( sv. Haštal ). 1237 saw Pope Gregory IX. the Brotherhood as a religious order with its own rule. 1252 might the Crusaders at the Judith Bridge ( predecessor of the Charles Bridge ) down, where a short time later a monastery and the hospital with the St. Francis Church was built. The Teutonic Knights took over because of the location of the Convention on an important trade route and river crossing protection, mounting and maintenance of the nearby bridge. Quick, the Order of Bohemia the extended addition. Branches opened in Moravia, Silesia, Poland and Hungary.
Task
The main task of the brothers was in nursing and the maintenance of own hospitals. The Crusaders also devoted pastoral care in parishes entrusted to them. The valid Order statute dates back to 1675, it was adapted only in the 1870s. By the end of the 13th century and female members were admitted into the community, the work duties performed in the hospitals. The highest head of the Order was titled Champion ( later General and Grand Master ). Until the 18th century the Order had also lay brothers, later only priest.
History
The local origin of the Cross wore to an extraordinary upsurge of this order in already under King Wenceslas I.. The largest spread experienced the Order by Emperor Charles IV as a manager at the 60 hospitals, houses and parish churches in the Czech lands and Hungary. Significant coming in the period before the Hussites were next to Prague: Mies, Brüx Leitmeritz, Eger, Klattau, Usti nad Labem, gurim, Pisek, New Town of Prague, Ceske Budejovice, Schüttenhofen and Kulm on the Eger, the provost of St. Hypolite ( Pöltenberg ) in Znojmo. Except the Prague Convention extinguished these offices during the Hussite Wars.
Important were also coming in Silesia, especially Wroclaw, Boleslawiec, Schweidnitz and Liegnitz, which existed until the secularization in 1810. 1735-40 they erected at the Wroclaw Lissa castle. More recently, the Crusaders managed a large number of parish boundaries, particularly in Western Bohemia ( Zettlitz, Karlovy Vary, Cheb, Tachau, elbows, etc.) and also a parish in Vienna.
Played an important role in the renewal of the Order of the Prague Archbishopric in 1561 as the Cross - Grand Master and Wiener Bishop Anton Brus was provided by Müglitz to the top of the archdiocese. In this way, Emperor Ferdinand could dope the reconstructed archbishopric with possessions of the Cross. The connection of the two functions Archbishop and Grand Master of the Order remained until 1668 consist.
The Order of the Cross with the Red Star still exists today, but is no more Knights. Grand Master is currently Josef Šedivý.
Most important churches of the Cross are today the Crusaders' church in Prague ( at the Old Town Bridge Tower ) and the Church of St. Charles.