# Church of Saint Wenceslaus
**Wikidata**: [Q107467277](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107467277)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/church-of-saint-wenceslaus-q107467277

## Summary
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is a former church building and ruins located in Smrkovec, within the Czech Republic, specifically in Březová. Dedicated to Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, it is classified as a "former entity," signifying that it no longer operates or exists in its original capacity. Its remains are documented with an image showing "Pohled na pozůstatky zaniklého kostela" (View of the remains of the defunct church).

## Key Facts
*   The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is categorized as a former church building, ruins, and a "former entity."
*   It is situated in Smrkovec, Czech Republic, within the municipality of Březová.
*   Its precise geographical coordinates are 50.0696369 latitude and 12.59722 longitude.
*   The church was dedicated to Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia.
*   It was associated with the Catholic Church.
*   An image of its remains, titled "Smrkovec pozůstatek kostela červen 2021 (1).jpg," is available on Wikimedia Commons.
*   The church is identified with a Mapy.com ID of `base&id=2342657`.
*   It also has a Znicenekostely ID of `13909`.
*   Its associated cadastral district is Smrkovec.
*   The concept of a "former entity," which the church is an instance of, has a Wikidata ID of Q64139102 (referenced on 2020-07-09) and a BabelNet ID of 00101101a.
*   The church has 2 sitelinks and Wikipedia entries in Commons and Czech (`cs`).

## FAQs
*   **What is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus?**
    The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is a former church building and ruins located in Smrkovec, Czech Republic, within the Březová municipality. It is dedicated to Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, and is classified as a "former entity" because it no longer operates.
*   **Where is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus located?**
    The church is situated in Smrkovec, Czech Republic, specifically within the administrative area of Březová. Its geographical coordinates are 50.0696369 latitude and 12.59722 longitude, and its associated cadastral district is Smrkovec.
*   **What is the significance of its classification as a "former entity"?**
    Its classification as a "former entity" means the Church of Saint Wenceslaus has ceased to operate or exist in its original capacity, placing its operational status definitively in the past. This distinguishes it from active or proposed structures and contributes to accurate historical record-keeping.
*   **What religious affiliation did the church have?**
    The Church of Saint Wenceslaus was associated with the Catholic Church, and its patron saint was Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia.
*   **Are there any digital records or identifiers for the church?**
    Yes, the church has a presence on Wikimedia Commons with an image of its remains and a dedicated category. It is also identified by a Mapy.com ID (`base&id=2342657`) and a Znicenekostely ID (`13909`).

## Why It Matters
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus matters as a concrete example of a "former entity," providing a tangible illustration of how structures transition from active use to historical remains. Its existence as ruins in Smrkovec offers a physical record of past religious and architectural presence in the Czech Republic. By being explicitly classified as a "former entity," it contributes to the precision of historical data and knowledge graphs, allowing for clear differentiation between active, proposed, and defunct subjects. This distinction is vital for historians, researchers, and data scientists to accurately analyze temporal changes, understand the evolution of landscapes, and verify the status of historical subjects over time.

## Notable For
*   Being a physical ruin that directly exemplifies the "former entity" classification in a real-world context.
*   Its dedication to Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, a significant figure in Czech history.
*   Its precise geographical documentation, including coordinates and location within Smrkovec, Czech Republic.
*   Its comprehensive digital footprint, including a specific image on Wikimedia Commons, a dedicated Commons category, and unique identifiers from Mapy.com and Znicenekostely.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is identified as a church building that has ceased to operate, now existing as ruins. It is specifically classified as an `instance_of` a "former church building" and, more broadly, a "former entity." This classification signifies that the church no longer functions in its original capacity, marking its operational status as terminated. The concept of a "former entity" is defined as any subject that no longer operates or has been terminated, possessing the characteristic of "existence" specifically in the "past." This places the Church of Saint Wenceslaus within a category of historical subjects that are distinct from current, active, or proposed entities.

### Geographical and Historical Context
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is located in the Czech Republic, specifically within the locality of Smrkovec. It falls under the administrative area of Březová, with its associated cadastral district also named Smrkovec. The precise geographical coordinates for the church are 50.0696369 latitude and 12.59722 longitude. These coordinates are referenced from Wikidata item Q191168. The church's status as ruins provides a historical marker within this specific Czech landscape.

### Religious Affiliation and Patronage
The church was dedicated to Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, a prominent patron saint. Its religious affiliation was with the Catholic Church. This dedication and religious context highlight its historical role as a place of worship and its connection to Catholic traditions within the region.

### Digital Footprint and Identifiers
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus has a notable digital presence across various platforms. An image depicting its remains, titled "Smrkovec pozůstatek kostela červen 2021 (1).jpg," is available on Wikimedia Commons, providing a visual record of its current state. This image is qualified with the description "Pohled na pozůstatky zaniklého kostela" (View of the remains of the defunct church). The church also has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons, "Church of Saint Wenceslaus (Smrkovec)," which serves as a repository for related media. It is assigned a unique identifier on Mapy.com as `base&id=2342657` and a Znicenekostely ID of `13909`. The entity has 2 sitelinks and is represented in Wikipedia in Commons and Czech (`cs`) languages.

### The "Former Entity" Status
The classification of the Church of Saint Wenceslaus as a "former entity" is central to its definition. This classification denotes an entity that no longer operates or has been terminated, with its existence confined to the past. This concept is a subclass of the broader "entity" category, inheriting general properties while adding the specific constraint of a concluded operational timeline.

The "former entity" concept is globally recognized and distinguished from several other categories to maintain data integrity. It is explicitly different from:
*   **Proposed entities**: Subjects that have not yet begun operations.
*   **Current entities**: Active subjects.
*   **Former qualities**: Attributes that are no longer applicable.
*   **Canceled names**: Names that are no longer in use.
*   **Replaced entities**: Subjects that have been superseded by others.
*   **Hypothetical entities**: Theoretical or imagined subjects.

The concept itself is identified in structured data with a Wikidata ID of Q64139102, with a reference date of July 9, 2020. It also has a BabelNet ID of 00101101a, noted as a "related match." This classification is supported by a rich array of aliases in multiple languages, including "defunct entity," "discontinued," "antigua entidad" (Spanish), "ancienne entité" (French), "ehemalig" (German), "過去の事物" (Japanese), "исчезнувшая сущность" (Russian), and "옛날에 있었던 개체" (Korean). Media and categorization for subjects like the Church of Saint Wenceslaus are primarily housed under the "No longer existent subjects" category on Wikimedia Commons and the main topic category "Category:Former entities," ensuring consistent organization and retrieval of historical data.

## References

1. znicenekostely.cz