The reasons for closing the church and its environs were entirely fabricated.No prohibition was ever raised against stray wanderers and children from the Zlaté Hory Sanatorium from walking in the woods round the Marian Shrine.On the contrary, some visitors seemed to be given hearty welcome; i.e. vandals. Evidence indicated that vandalism occurred, not by chance, but on purpose and was consistently directed. It was to serve as another reason for the liquidation of the shrine.
While the church administrators Fr. E. Štula and Fr. E. Morcinek from Supíkovice along with other faithful people were trying to save the church, a bestial devastation was in progress within it, without regard for the historical or the artistic value of the monuments. Gradually the altars, benches, and the organ were destroyed. The church pavement and the marble facing, the staircase, as well as the masonry of the chapels were taken apart. Later, a waiting room at the nearby bus stop was built using the materias from the church. Everything took place in broad daylight, the police on duty.
Under these uncheerful
circumstances the regional and district church secretaries,
accompanied by Fr. Veselý, the ordinary, came to
visit Fr. Eduard Gottsmann. They wished to obtain written consent to demolish the church. They pressed the old and ailing
priest severely, but he did not acquiesce
The authority, however, determined to accomplish the demolition at all costs.
