Church of Our Lady Victorious

At first glance, the Church of Our Lady Victorious doesn’t seem particularly noteworthy. Lost amongst a sea of dozens of other prominent churches in Mala Strana (the Lesser Quarter), this church doesn’t have a particularly prominent spire or exterior. It cannot not be compared to the flashy Church of St. Nicholas just up the street and it’s not especially old either built in 1584. It’s decidedly younger than the oldest church in the neighborhood, the Church of Our Lady Under the Chain, which was founded back in the 12th century. Yet the church is crowded with throngs of tourists from all over the world, and in 2009 the church received one particularly famous visitor: Pope Benedict XVI himself! The reason for the Church of Our Lady Victorious’ fame? It’s the home of the famous Infant Jesus of Prague statue, a wax and wooden figure dating back to the sixteenth century that’s been recognized by no less than four popes over the past century or so. It’s been honored with two canonical coronations, an act of the Pope by which images of Christ are bestowed with crowns or tiaras. The Infant Jesus of Prague wears a crown given by Pope Benedict XVI, and has a vast wardrobe of some 380 capes and cloaks donated by well-wishers, including one stitched together by Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. Its clothes are periodically changed in dressing ceremonies, reflecting different seasons of the year or commemorating special religious holidays.