Czechia’s ‘celebrity priest’: Martina Viktorie Kopecká on modern ministry in the Czechoslovak Hussite Church

Have you heard of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church? What inspires someone to become a priest? Why are pastors prone to burnout? And can a priest dance on live television? Radio Prague International spoke with Martina Viktorie Voborníková Kopecká, a priest of the Hussite Church who is also a family therapist, author, blogger, and radio host. In a country where much of the population identifies as irreligious, she is a remarkably well-known public figure.

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church

In the late 1910s and early 1920s, Czech reform-minded Catholic priests began advocating changes to their church to better suit the newly established Czechoslovak state after World War I. “They tried to talk about new ways and possibilities for Czechoslovak spiritual life in a new Czechoslovak nation,” Kopecká describes. Proposed reforsm included voluntary celibacy and the use of the Czech language in liturgical life. Their efforts eventually led to the founding of a new church in January 1920, initially called the Czechoslovak Church.

The term Hussite was added later, in 1971, drawing on Czech history, which forms a central part of the Church’s identity.

Martina V. Kopecká|Photo: archive of Martina V. Kopecká

“The Church has several sources of inspiration, including the Czech Reformation of Jan Hus (15th century), but also Cyril and Methodius, who are linked to the very beginning of Christianity in the Czech lands (9th century).”

Today, according to Kopecká, the Church focuses on “spirituality, social engagement, and ecumenical cooperation in a democratic society.”

Finding her path

Kopecká’s own path to the Czechoslovak Hussite Church developed somewhat unexpectedly. She explains that she initially applied to study theology largely for pragmatic reasons – simply to pursue a university education – after having worked in a corporate job for several years. She soon discovered that “theology is the love of (her) life” and was drawn to the variety and responsibilities of pastoral work.

Kopecká did not grow up in a particularly religious family and her parents are not Christians. Both worked as medical rescuers, and, as she puts it, family values were strongly oriented toward service to others.

“When I was a teenager, I wasn't happy that my parents preferred to work on Christmas or my Birthday. It was not easy. But it definitely showed me that sometimes we also need to concentrate on ourselves and our family, our leisure time, etc.”

Kopecká began serving in the Czechoslovak Hussite Church approximately fifteen years ago. She first entered ministry as a deacon and later became a priest, in line with the church’s tradition of ordaining women with full ministerial authority since 1947.

“I believe that everybody can be spiritual in his or her own way.”

As of 2023, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church had approximately 150 active priests, including 76 women and 74 men, giving women a slight majority. However, the average age of priests is 58, which Kopecká identifies as a potential challenge.

“I think we really need to attract new pastors. It doesn't matter if it is men or women, we need both.”

The life and challenges of a pastor

Kopecká currently serves at the parish of St Nicholas on Old Town Square in the heart of Prague. Rather than portraying the priest as a solitary figure, she emphasises collaboration and presents the priest as an ordinary person. The Czechoslovak Hussite Church allows priests to marry, and Kopecká is married to a woman.

She explains that: “the combination of living in a relationship and serving is enriching for me. It is the source of my energy.” And adds that: “when I am consulting people who are struggling in their relationships, I can rely on my own experience.”

Alongside her theological studies, Kopecká later studied psychology and special education at Charles University, which now complement her work. She also has psychotherapeutic training in family and crisis intervention, a background that informs how she approaches the challenges of pastoral life:

“Sometimes I hesitate – not about God and His presence and existence, but about myself. Am I serving enough?”

“Sometimes I hesitate – not about God and His presence and existence, but about myself. Am I serving enough? Am I serving in a good way? Am I pushing people to change themselves? I have supervision in my psychotherapeutic praxis, but I have no supervision in the pastoral praxis. So sometimes I ask my supervisor to talk with me about my service in the church.”

Despite the challenges, she finds the work deeply rewarding: “It's not an easy job, but it’s beautifully rich with a variety of subjects.” She values the possibility to shape the role according to each person’s strengths and interests. However, she also emphasises the risk of burnout among pastors.

“I see that it is a profession at risk of burnout.”

“We need to talk about our nights without sleep, when we reflect on what we said, what we should do, and who is coming or not coming to church. I take things very personally and it's not always very healthy. Sometimes I need to stop and reflect, make a summary or vision board of what I want to do and what my weaknesses are. But when I have a colleague beside me, it's always better."

“I'm not a good example of how to balance work and life. For me, it is a lifestyle. But sometimes I'm quite angry because I cannot stop thinking about my service and my profession.”

Writing as therapy

Constant reflection on her role as a pastor has led Kopecká to write two books. She describes them as a form of “therapy by sharing,” putting her thoughts on paper while offering readers a personal and relatable insight into her experiences.

Her first book, The Diary of a Woman Priest (2021), recounts the early years of her ministry:

“People hesitated over whether I was really an experienced enough pastor to bury their grandparent, and so on. It was quite funny, even though it was tough for me.”

Photo: Archives de Martina V. Kopecká

Her second book, The Confession of a Woman Priest (2023), is, as she put it, her “coming out.” Kopecká explains that her “confession” does not refer to her personal relationships:

“The Confession is about feeling guilty that I am serving too much or not enough, about my own personal hesitations. It is about human fragility and oversensitivity.”

Her most recent book is a children’s story, inspired by her interactions with young visitors to the church and her desire to answer their questions. It follows a small spider living in an organ and his friend, a mouse, as they explore the liturgical year.

“It is normal to dance even though you are a priest.”

One of the reasons why Kopecká may be recognised on the streets of Prague is her participation in the Czech version of the TV show Strictly Come Dancing – called Stardance – in 2021. She explains that it was a very tiring time of her life:

Martina V. Kopecká and Pope Francis|Photo: Archives de Martina V. Kopecká

“After the Saturday evening live show, I had a few hours to sleep, recover, and remove my nail polish, and then in the morning, I served the Sunday worship. It was very exhausting.”

However, questions did arise about whether a priest should be dancing on live television at all.

“I tried to be isolated from this discussion as it was a very sensitive topic for me, because people were evaluating my body when they were watching the dance show. It was difficult. But now I'm stronger and I think I have better self-confidence, as well as a better overview of my body’s abilities."

“The show showed me that it's not necessary to wear a mask. It is better to be natural. It helps me to show that it is normal to be fragile. It is normal to be emotional. It is normal to dance even though you are a priest.”

Are Czechs really that atheist?

The Czech Republic is, at least on paper, one of the most irreligious countries in Europe.

“Czech people don't want to belong to an institution. But they are very spiritual.”

“Czech people don't want to belong to an institution. They don't want to have their member card and to rely only on an institution. But they are very spiritual,” argues Kopecká. In her experience of talking with people who ask her about God and share their own experiences, “Czech people are not atheists at all.”

“They have a connection with something transcendental, something that is above us. Of course, there is a huge movement of esoteric and Eastern spirituality, yoga, and so on. People understand these spiritual paths, and understanding is crucial in spiritual life."

Martina V. Kopecká among the synod fathers|Photo: Archives de Martina V. Kopecká

“When the Hussite Church was first established, understanding was a core point – having the liturgy in the mother tongue, in Czech, which was entirely new. Latin was not accessible. So understanding, and the feeling that I can be accepted as I am while always trying to be the best version of myself, is truly spiritual. We just have to open our hearts, minds, and churches, and also serve outside the church, because people sometimes need some time to come.”

Currently, The Czechoslovak Hussite Church is the third- or fourth-largest church in the Czech Republic and, according to the Church’s own statistics, had over 40,000 members in 2023.

You can listen to the full interview to hear Kopecká reflect on her work, faith, and what it means to serve as a modern priest in the Czech Republic.