Evangelicals in Roztoky - then and now

The Roztoky preaching station functioned in some capacity until 1984. After a thirty-year hiatus, however, a revival took place in 2014. Roztoky evangelicals began to meet for worship once a month on the premises of the local Roztoč association. 

As the interest in the activities of the evangelical fellowship grew, however, its members began to consider establishing an independent congregation with its own pastor. For some time, this community belonged to the Prague congregation of the ECCB in Kobylisy, where I, the author of this article and then vicar of the Kobylisy congregation, got acquainted with them. After the end of the vicariate in September 2021, I was elected pastor of the CCE congregation Prague 8 - Kobylisy to work in the Roztoky preaching station. And then, by the decision of the 4th session of the 35th Synod of the ECCB on May 20, 2022, an independent parish congregation was established in Roztoky and in September of this year I was confirmed as its pastor.

The Roztoky congregation is characterized by an intense connection with the local community. Its members are mostly active citizens on many levels - they participate in the cultural and political life of the community. An example of this synergy is the cooperation with the initiative "Roztoky Helps Ukraine", the main platform of assistance for more than three hundred Ukrainian refugees who have found a home in Roztoky. In addition to charitable work, Roztoky also organizes discussions for the public. The cooperation with the local congregation of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church is also excellent. Together with its pastor Kristýna E. Ptáčková, we organized ecumenical services, ecumenical prayers for peace and the Good Friday Stations of the Cross.

By reaching beyond their own community, evangelicals are in a way returning to their roots. Recently, a chronicle of the evangelical youth in Roztoky from 1943-1945 was brought to our congregation. In it, we read that the evangelical youth then like today were interested in current social events and were in close contact with the Hussite youth (then the CČM). The youth organized and attended concerts together, took trips, and discussed contemporary issues. The chronicle also records an unfortunate event when one member of this group died at the very end of World War II. The chronicle is available at the Roztoky congregation and will soon be on display at the local museum.

I believe that even the present events in Roztoky will be inspiring for future generations and that perhaps our chronicle will one day give an account of the rich life of the Roztoky Evangelicals.

Anna Pokorná