Church of Our Lady of Victories
The Church of Our Lady of Victories (Czech: Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné), also referred as the Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, in Malá Strana, the "Lesser Quarter" of Prague, is a church governed and administered by the Discalced Carmelites.
| Church of Our Lady of Victories | |
|---|---|
| The Church of Our Lady of Victory and Saint Anthony of Padua | |
| Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague | |
Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné | |
Church of Our Lady of Victories Location in Czech Republic | |
| 50°05′09″N 14°24′13″E | |
| Location | Prague |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous denomination | Lutheran |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Church of the Holy Trinity |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1584 |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Victories |
| Consecrated | 8 September 1624 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Baroque |
| Years built | 1611–1613 |
| Completed | 1613 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Prague |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Dominik Duka |
| Prior | Pavel Pola |
| Subprior | Victor Fernandes |
| Rector | Anastasio Roggero |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | Drahomíra Matznerová |
The shrine is home to the famed statue called the Infant Jesus of Prague. The statue, which originated in Spain, is a 16th-century representation of infant Child Jesus holding a globus cruciger. It was donated to the Carmelite friars in 1628 by Polyxena, First Princess of the House of Lobkowicz.
Pope Leo XII granted its first pontifical decree of canonical coronation on 24 September 1824, signed and notarized by Cardinal Pietro Francesco Galleffi for the Patriarchal Council of the "Vatican Chapter", as the first Christological image granted this prestigious honor. On 30 March 1913, Pope Pius X granted authorization to erect the Confraternity of the Infant Jesus of Prague based on former regulations promulgated by Pope Clement VIII, which was signed and notarized by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val. Pope Benedict XVI crowned the image for the second time during his Apostolic visit to the Czech Republic on 26 September 2009. The venerated image, along with its canoness custodians will celebrate its 200 years of pontifical coronation in 2024.