Cyril of Alexandria
John Chrysostom
Gregory of Nazianzus
Basil of Caesarea
The high Baroque church St Nicholas (in Czech Mikulase) on Mala Strana is known in Prague as the ‘Wedding Cake’. Once inside the nick name becomes obvious as modesty seems not to be part of scheme. Large chequered floor stones spread over the ground plan, with relative sobriety but slight surrealism - only enhancing the sugary colours used in the interior. Columns are clad in fleshy fake marble with glided wooden carvings highlighting every crevice. Some of the gilded carvings are of miniature cherubs; others are of marine themed scallops and plants.
Built by the Dientzenhofer father and son team, with Christoph Dientzenhofer (father) firstly constructing the main church in 1703-11, and the interior being completed later by son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1737-52. St Nicholas was built to honour the Saint and features statues and frescos depicting his many feats (including him as Santa Claus) but also him rescuing sailors in distress, saving women from prostitution by throwing them bags of gold, and reprieving from death three unjustly condemned men.
Walking down the aisle to the main alter piece, each side chamber contains within it a smaller alter further crammed with yet more lively entourages, as if the one focal point of the interior was not enough. When standing before the main alter you are leered down upon by four kindly figures. They are the 4thC. Four Eastern Fathers, each one placed in front of the supporting pillars of the main dome. The Fathers - amongst others in St Nicholas, are the work of sculptor František Ignác Platzer, and made in 1755-69 after the church’s interior design was completed. They are cuddly, graceful – almost voluptuous.
The first of these is Cyril of Alexandria (Cyril Alexandrijsky) who born in Egypt c. 376 - 444 was the Pope of Alexandria from 412 to 444. An unlikely and controversial Father when his much disputed history is examined. Theodosius II, the Roman Emperor, condemned him for behaving like a proud Pharaoh, and Nestorian bishops at the Council of Ephesus declared him a heretic, labelling him as a "monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church". In his statue in St Nicholas he is seen daintily spearing one of his victims through the throat with sinister tenderness. The character of St Cyril is also appeared in Youssef Zieden recent book Azazeel with won the 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Next is John Chrysostom (Jan Zlatoústý) born c. 347–407 in Antioch, now in modern Turkey. In 398 he was ordered against his will to take up the role of Archbishop of Constantinople, but refused the lavish trapping that accompanied the job. Known as an eloquent preacher was given the nickname ‘golden mouth’ for is persuasive way with words. Chrysostom, like Cyril was a campaigner against the Jews, but unlike Cyril delivered his sermons in a practical every day language directed to the common masses. Shown at Nicholas wisely clasping a heavy book, and directing his cherubic accomplice to pay attention to what going on above.
Thirdly is seen Gregory of Nazianzus (Řehoř Naziánský) born in c. 32– January 25 389 or 39 to a wealthy landowning family and also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen. As a Philosopher and student of rhetoric he travelled to Athens, and on his return was faced with constant dilemmas over whether to follow a religious or philosophical life. He joined the priesthood under the request of his father, and later was made a Bishop and finally Archbishop of Constantinople. His pose of the statue at St Nicholas is one of the most thoughtful of the four, capturing him in a meditative moment of spiritual, or more likely philosophical contemplation.
Finally is Basil of Caesarea (Basil Veliký) also called Saint Basil the Great, born in 330– January 1 – 379 Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia (now Keyseri, Turkey). He became a lifelong friend of Gregory Nazianzus after they studied together in Constantinople, so is in good company to stand beside him at St Nicholas. After a career as a teacher and an attorney he began his Theological work after an awakening, and was an advocate of literal interpretations of the scriptures. It is also interesting to see him here aside St Nicholas – the Western Santa Clause, as St Basil is regarded in the Greek Church as the Eastern Santa Clause, with his present giving activities occurring on the 1st of January, the day of his death. The most jolly and kindly of the Fathers representations, he is shown tapping generously his heart, and smiling though his long white beard.