* 10.11.1798 (Merklín)   † 22.09.1879 (Prague)

Antonín Rost came from a devout family and decided at an early age to be ordained a priest and subsequently study theology in Innsbruck. After earning his doctorate in 1838, he served as a lecturer at the University of Innsbruck and later as director of the seminary in Prague. In 1848, Rost left Prague and took up a position with the Alt-Bunzlau Chapter. In 1853, Rost became administrator of our church, St. John of Nepomuk on the Rock. He noticed that the neighboring hospital was throwing the bodies of poor deceased people into a collection shaft in sacks every day. Therefore, in 1861, following the Viennese model, he founded the charitable organization “Society of St. Joseph of Arimathea.” Its mission was to provide coffins for the poor deceased and to accompany them to the cemetery in decent clothing. During the half-century of its activity, over 60,000 dignified burials were organized for the poorest of the poor.

Rost died on September 22, 1879, at the age of 80, and there was not even enough left to cover the funeral expenses. The Arimathean service was paid for by his grateful followers, who covered the funeral costs. He is buried at Vyšehrad.

Prelate Rost was so modest that no one was able to create a likeness of him. After his death, Monsignor Jaenig (one of his successors) created a stone bust of him, which stands in the garden at the side entrance of the church, between two trees that he himself planted.