A unique church bell for the Church of the Holy Savior in Prague has been completed in the Netherlands. It was crafted from materials sourced from Russian weapons used in Ukraine. This distinctive symbol of peace and hope will soon be installed in the heart of the Czech capital, at the church located near Charles Bridge, which serves as an academic parish for several universities in Prague.
The new bell will begin ringing on June 5, with Czech President Petr Pavel and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in attendance as honored guests. Joost Eijsbouts, the owner of the foundry in Asten, noted that the bell was made in just two weeks, a significantly shorter time than the usual several months. This rapid production was possible due to the complex alloy composition: in addition to traditional bronze (80% copper and 20% tin), brass made from parts of destroyed Russian ammunition was also included in the mixture.
Metal from an S-300 missile has been embedded in the heart of a new bell, which weighs 220 kg and has a diameter of 69 cm. Additionally, fragments of a 122-mm artillery shell have been incorporated into the bell's body. The heart of the bell was manufactured in the Czech Republic and will be assembled with the main part in Prague.
This project is unique not only in its technological aspects but also in its symbolic significance. In the 20th century, many bells were confiscated for war purposes, but now, weapons have been transformed into a symbol of peace through sound. The inscriptions on the bell are engraved in three languages — Czech, Ukrainian, and Dutch. The upper inscription features a biblical passage from the Letter to the Galatians: “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” There is also a phrase that reads, “This bell was cast from weapons used during the Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
The project was made possible thanks to support from the Dutch Embassy in the Czech Republic, as well as sponsorship from Huisman (300,000 kroons), NN (150,000 kroons), and the logistics company Voerman, which facilitated transportation. Monsignor Tomáš Halik will bless the bell before it is installed.
This new bell will replace the historic “Salvator” bell, which was cast in 1582 and lost during the First World War when the army requisitioned it to be melted down for weapons. Since then, the bell tower has remained empty until this June, when a symbol of spiritual strength and unity will return to its rightful place.