Proboštov VII

For more information about the cross, see the Registration Card of this small sacral monument.
During the dormant season 2021/2022, the land, which is registered as permanent grassland in the land register, will be cleared of self-seeded trees (none of them exceeds a trunk circumference of 80 cm at a height of 130 cm above the ground) in agreement with its owners. In the subsequent period, the base will be set on the modified foundations. After consultation with the National Heritage Institute ÚP Ústí nad Labem and in cooperation with the restorer Martin Šerák, a cast iron cross will be added to it.

At the end of November 2021, the felling of self-seeded trees and the removal of fallen trees started. In the second half of 2021, the base of the pedestal was discovered in a private garden. With the consent of the garden owner, it will be transported to its original location.

The stonework necessary for the construction of the pedestal will be carried out by the stonemason Josef Sotona, who prepared a price proposal on 10. 5. 2022. The head of the pedestal will be carved by the stonemason according to the attached drawing. The shape of the head was consulted and approved by the National Heritage Institute, Ústí nad Labem.

In cooperation with the National Heritage Institute, an initial design for the cast-iron cross of Proboštov VII was based on a model from Konojedy near Úštěk, and later from Osek. Eventually, a cross from the old cemetery near Pohorská Ves in South Bohemia was chosen. The restorer Martin Šerák negotiated with the local mayor and parish priest regarding its removal and restoration. On this occasion, two crosses will be cast using moulds made from this cross. The second one will be installed at Řetouň I.

On 7. 7. 2022, under the auspices of the National Heritage Institute, the surroundings of the shaft, within a radius of approximately 50 m, were thoroughly examined using metal detectors. However, only a few fragments (remnants of the "glow" and the beam) were found, consistent with the discoveries from 25. 6. 2021 – see the Registration Card.

On 23. 8. 2022, the stonemason Sotona submitted an invoice to the association for a block of Božanov sandstone required for carving the head of the pedestal. The invoice, which also covered transportation costs to the stonemason's workshop, was promptly paid.

The mowing of the meadow on the designated land was not carried out until the end of September 2022. Due to subsequent weather conditions and the availability of Vladimír Břehovský from Tašov, work on leveling the terrain around the cross took place the following spring, on 3. 4. 2023. Tree stumps and roots were removed, and the ground was leveled. Subsequently, on 8. 4. 2023, preparations for the foundation of the pedestal were made by excavating the topsoil, including stones, to define the area where the pit needed to be dug.

Under the patronage of Tomáš Hübsch from Tašov, on 5. 5. 2023, a quad bike was used to transport the footing from the garden to its designated location. Estimated weight of the footing: 350 kg. Subsequently, the foundations of the pedestal will be prepared (stones set in concrete), and the transported footing will be placed on them.

On 31. 5. 2023, on the recommendation of the stonemason Josef Sotona, a pit was dug with a floor plan of approximately 100 x 100 cm and a depth of approximately 50 cm, in which the stones for the base of the pedestal should be set in concrete.

On 11., 20., and 21. 8. 2023, the foundation of the cross was gradually built by connecting the stones with CEMEX Profi B30 concrete. A total of 525 kg of concrete was transported from the road to the creek (with a 30 m elevation gain over a 190 m route) using a four-wheeler. Together with the stones, the foundation forms a block weighing approximately one tonne.

On 14. 9. 2023 at 9:00 a.m., on the road from Tašov to Proboštov at the crossing with the high-voltage line, the stonemason Josef Sotona, his mother, Jiří Esö from Pohoří, and the chairman of the association met. First, the stonemason's trailer with water-filled canisters for cleaning the stone with pressurized water and a "quadruped" structure for handling the footing and base shank was taken down to the creek by quad bike. Another trailer was used to bring other necessary material and equipment to the stream: an electric generator, a WAP cleaner, ropes, tools, etc.

Using the "quadruped," the footing was first moved and turned. The contact area with the foundation had already been scrubbed with a brush on 10. 9. 2023. After applying adhesive, the footing was set on a base of stones and concrete (see above). Then, its top surface was cleaned with pressurized water.

Next, the shank was moved, erected, and properly rotated. Before seating it, adhesive was applied to the mating surface. After assembly, the footing and shank were cleaned with pressurized water. The structure was then brushed with a special SI cleaner and, after half an hour, cleaned again with pressurized water. This process was repeated once more.

The work concluded at 16:00 with the removal of two trailers up to the road.

As mentioned above, in cooperation with the National Heritage Institute ÚOP Ústí nad Labem, a model for the new cast-iron crosses of Proboštov VII and Řetouň I was selected, namely the cross from the old cemetery near Pohorská Ves in South Bohemia. The restorer Martin Šerák negotiated with the local mayor and parish priest the possibility of its removal and repair. On that occasion, two crosses will be cast in moulds made from this cross. The photos were taken by Martin Šerák on 27. 7. 2023.

On 21. 2. 2024, Martin Šerák concluded a loan agreement with the relevant parish priest in Kaplice. The following day, 22. 2. 2024, the dismantling of the cross in the cemetery took place. The removed cross was washed with lye and pressure water. The photos were taken by Martin Šerák on 1. 5. 2024. A similar type of cross was used for comparison. The cross from Pohorská Ves is on the right and is approximately 190 cm high.

On 16. 4. 2024, Martin Šerák excavated the layer of soil around the base of the pedestal and, on that occasion, carried out a metal detector survey to check for any missing parts near the cross. Fragments of nails from coffins dominated among the finds. Two fragments of beamed rays (already blasted in the picture) were also found, but they do not belong to the dismantled cross. Martin Šerák concludes, based on the historical context of the village's founding (the original name was Theresiendorf; more on its history HERE), the church, the shape of the pedestal, the position of the cross near the entrance, and the considerable elevation of the terrain, that the cross or grave was built around the first third of the 19th century. The origin of the grave thus corresponds to the period when the crosses Proboštov VII and Řetouň I were created.

On 18. 5. 2024, the restorer Martin Šerák sent an itemized budget for the creation of the cast iron crosses Proboštov VII and Řetouň I. It was decided that in 2024, the pedestal or head would be completed so that in the future, after securing the necessary funds, a cast iron cross could be manufactured and installed. In this year, i.e., 2024, an application for a subsidy will be submitted for the production of the cast iron cross for Řetouň I, and the following year for the cross Proboštov VII.

Almost exactly a year later, on 12. 9. 2024, at the same place (the crossing of the high-voltage line with the road connecting Tašov and Proboštov) at 5:15 p.m., the stonemason Josef Sotona with his mother, Jiří Esö from Pohoří, and the chairman of the association met again. The stonemason brought the head of the pedestal in a trailer, which was attached behind the quad bike so that Jiří Esö could transport the head to the shank with the footing.

The stonemason will then make the so-called Golgotha, i.e., the part into which the cast-iron cross will be fitted. Once the Golgotha is finished, machinery (probably a backhoe loader) must arrive to lift the head and then the Golgotha so that the stonemason can position and connect these parts. All this will be done in 2024. Assuming smooth preparation (see above), the cross will likely be installed in 2026.

On 2 April 2025 at 9.00 a.m. at the Proboštov VII cross, the stonemason Josef Sotona and his mother met with Vláďa Kůstka, who arrived by tractor-digger. With the help of ropes, the head of the pedestal brought last autumn was attached to the hook of the bucket. After the mortar was applied to the upper surface of the shank, the head was carefully set on the shank with the tractor-digger. In less than an hour it was finished.