Czech Ambassador Visits Moravian Church Settlements in Bethlehem, PA
By Gwen
Posted Oct 18, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Ambassador Miloslav Stašek of the Czech Republic visited Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on May 5, 2026, to meet with local leaders and tour the Moravian Church Settlements, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the visit, he met with Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds to discuss the historical, architectural, and current significance of the site, emphasizing its connection to the Czech Republic.
The Moravian Church Settlements, recognized as a transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds deep historical importance. American Founding Fathers such as George and Martha Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin worshipped in the Old Chapel of the settlement. The Ambassador’s visit coincided with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, highlighting the Moravians’ historical influence.
Ambassador Stašek also engaged with representatives of the Moravian Church, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Moravian Archives. Senior Pastor Janel Rice shared insights into the mission and work of the Central Moravian Church. Dr. Katherine Faull and Senior Advisor Charlene Donchez Mowers provided historical context and guided the Ambassador through the well-preserved buildings of the settlement. The Ambassador viewed historical documents and artifacts in the Moravian Archives with Archivist Paul Peucker, which preserve the legacy and teachings of the Moravians who settled Pennsylvania.
In addition to the tour, Ambassador Stašek was welcomed to Moravian University by President Bryon Grigsby. The university’s founding ideals are rooted in the legacy of John Amos Comenius, a pioneer of universal education. A statue of Comenius, gifted by Charles University of Prague in 1960 and sculpted by Moravian-born artist Vincent Makovský, stands as a focal point of the campus.
The Ambassador also met with Karolína Žáková, a Czech student at Moravian University, underscoring the university’s role in fostering student and cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and the United States. This visit reinforced the enduring ties between the Czech Republic and the Moravian communities in Pennsylvania, reflecting a shared commitment to education, heritage, and mutual understanding.
Source: Read the original report
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
