King Wenceslas is the patron saint and symbol of the Czech state. He was the reigning prince of Bohemia, posthumously declared king. Almost immediately after his death, Wenceslas was considered a martyr and saint. The cult of his veneration flourished in Europe in the second half of the 11th century and even spread to Russian lands. The prince founded the church, which later became the main spiritual and cultural-historical shrine of the Czech Republic - St. Vitus Cathedral. It contains the remains of King Wenceslas, and the temple is the main pilgrimage site in the Czech Republic. The memory of the holy ruler lives in numerous legends, songs, works of church and secular art. Temples in his honor were erected on Czech soil and in other states.
Church veneration
King Wenceslas became the only Czech saint whose day of veneration was included in the world calendar of the Roman Catholic Church and is celebrated on September 28. The prince martyr is one of the most popular historical and religious figures in the Czech Republic. Residents of the country on this day make celebrations and pilgrimages to Old Boleslav. Since 2000, St. Wenceslas Day in the Czech Republic has been considered a public holiday and is celebrated as the Day of Czech Statehood. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI took an active part in church celebrations on September 28. The fourth of March marks the day of the Transfer of the relics of King Wenceslas, which took place in 938. Catholics and Orthodox worship the saint.
Historical, cultural, political significance
After the death of Wenceslas, four versions of his “life” were distributed in the countries of medieval Europe. In the era of the High Middle Ages, these hagiographic works had a powerful influence on the formation of the concept of rex justus (the righteous king), that is, the monarch whose power stemmed mainly from his great piety, as well as princely power.
Although Wenceslas was only the prince of Bohemia during his lifetime, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Otto I posthumously granted him royal dignity and title, therefore he is called the king in legends and songs.
The anthem "Wenceslas ..." is one of the oldest Czech songs. It has been known since the 12th century and is still one of the most popular religious chants. In 1918, with the foundation of the modern Czechoslovak state, chorales were discussed as a possible choice of the national anthem. During the Nazi occupation, the Czechs often performed it along with the national anthem. Why is the image of St. Wenceslas so significant in the history of Christianity and the Czech state?
Youth prince
Wenceslas belonged to the family of Przemyslovich, the first Czech dynasty of princes and kings. Under her management was Bohemia, Moravia, some territories of Hungary, Austria, Poland, including Silesia. The dynasty existed from about 870 to 1306 and was the only ruling surname, the princes and kings of which were Czechs. All subsequent monarchs came from foreign clans.
Vyacheslav belonged to the third generation of princes who converted to Christianity. His grandfather Borzhivoyya I in 990 was baptized by St. Methodius himself. After the death of Prince Vratislav I, the father of Wenceslas, the Christian upbringing and education of the 13-year-old prince took care of his grandmother, a zealous Christian Lyudmila Bohemskaya, who later became the holy martyr Lyudmila. Dragomira, the mother of Wenceslas, who remained a champion of pagan faith, after the death of her husband took over the regency over Bohemia. Her rule was arbitrary and cruel, especially in relation to Christian subjects.
Fierce opposition emerged between Dragomira and Ludmila, and the courtyard split into two confronting sides. In addition to disputes about the Saxon threat (the attack on the lands of Bohemia by King of Germany Henry I) and power in the principality, Dragomir did not like the influence of Lyudmila on Wenceslas. The regent organized the murder of her mother-in-law when she was in the Teninsky castle near Beroun. According to legend, the killers sent by Dragomira on September 15, 921 strangled Lyudmila Bohemsky with her own veil. The name of St. Ludmila is included in the lists of Orthodox and Catholic saints, and her remains are transferred to the church of St. George in Prague, built by the father of Wenceslas. According to legend, Dragomira tried to convert Waclaw, after the death of his grandmother, to a pagan religion, but her attempts were unsuccessful.
Governing body
In the years 924-925. Wenceslas was actually forced to overthrow his mother and take the princely throne on behalf of his subjects, after which he immediately exiled Dragomir to Budeč. It is not known exactly when Wenceslas came of age, but the latest date is the fall of 925, when he already ruled the state. With the support of the nobility, the newly-minted prince took control of the government and directed the main efforts at resolving internal and external conflicts.
The reign of Wenceslas began with military operations within the state. He fought with the troops of Rodislav, the rebellious princes of the Zalichansky tribes, who had the territories of Eastern and Southern Bohemia. Wenceslas defeated the leader, and Rodislav submitted to the rule of the prince of Bohemia. In different parts of the state were other, hostile principalities and individual tribes. But to cope with internal enemies and focus on consolidating a single strong Czech Republic was prevented by an external threat.
Peace Treaty with Henry I
Bohemia was subjected to continuous raids by the Magyars and other enemies. The greatest danger was the Duke of Saxony, King of Germany Henry I, known as the Birds. He subjugated many European states and peoples to his power, significantly expanded his territories and very close to Bohemia. At the beginning of 929, with the support of the ally of the Duke of Bavaria, the troops of the German king approached practically the walls of Prague. In response to the threat of attack, Prince Vaclav renewed the tribute agreement, first introduced by the East Frankish king in 895.
The annual tax from Bohemia in the form of precious metals and cattle was burdensome for Bohemia. But while Vaclav paid this contribution, he could concentrate on strengthening the Czech state and spreading the Christian religion in his principality.
The sacred gift of King Henry
The peace treaty saved the nascent Czech state from the ruin and aggressive policy of Henry I. The King of Germany even handed over to Wenceslas part of the remains of one of the most revered Saxon patrons - the right hand of St. Vitus. The transfer of the relic meant that Henry I recognized Wenceslas as a political and Christian partner. This gift also marked the beginning of the accession of Bohemia to the composition and patronage of the Roman Church. Prior to this, religious rites in Bohemia were held according to Byzantine traditions and in the Old Slavonic language. Wenceslas invited the German priests and approved the Latin rite instead of the old Slavic, which in many places of Bohemia went out of use due to the lack of clergy.
The spiritual center of the state
To store the shrine, in around 930, Wenceslas built a rotunda in the fortified castle settlement in honor of St. Vitus, which became the main religious institution in the Czech Republic. The prince personally held the first service in the church in Latin and Slavic languages. Later, over five centuries, on the site of a wooden rotunda, the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Wojtech founded by Wenceslas in Prague was built. The temple is the most important shrine of the state, it houses the department of the bishop of Prague, and in the southern apse, the most important place of the cathedral, are the remains of the holy king. The south apse of the cathedral, the crown and skull of St. Wenceslas were an integral part of the coronation ritual in the Czech Republic.
Acts
The ancient legends of the X-XI centuries reflect the virtuous and pious life of Prince Wenceslas, full of worries about strengthening the Christian faith in Czech lands. The construction of numerous churches is also attributed to the saint, but there is no documentary evidence of this. Legends focus on Wenceslas frequent visits to services, the acts of mercy and compassion undertaken by him. In honor of the memory of his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, the prince took care of the poor, sick and orphans, provided shelter and hospitality to the pilgrims, bought slaves from bondage. Some later reports speak of deforestation around Prague Castle. Vaclav ordered to clear the area under vineyards, orchards and fields. Under his reign, wine production and grain trading began to develop.
Treacherous murder
In September 935, Prince Wenceslas was killed by his younger brother Boleslav, who had planned the evil deed beforehand. On the occasion of the feast in honor of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Boleslav invited the prince to his place in the city of Old Boleslav and arranged a feast for his elder brother. The next morning, even before dawn, Vaclav went to the church of Cosmas and Damian, and when he left after the service, three comrades of Boleslav - Tyr, Chest and Wrath - attacked the prince and stabbed him. After his brother’s lifeless body fell to the ground, Boleslav pierced him with a spear.
Legends report the day of the murder, but not the year. This happened on Monday, September 28th, such a date coincided with the day of the week in 929 and 935. Due to the lack of more specific data, the year of the death of Prince Wenceslas is finally unknown. Historians suggest that it was 935.
Places of worship
In the Czech Republic, many churches were erected in honor of Wenceslas. In addition to the Cathedral of St. Vita and the chapel of St. Wenceslas in Prague Castle, you can name a number of famous churches:
- St. Basilica Wenceslas in Old Boleslav, built in the Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque styles. It is located on the site of the church of St. Cosmas and Damian, where Wenceslas, according to legend, was killed by his brother Boleslav I in 935 (or 929). The basilica is a significant pilgrimage site.
- St. Wenceslas Cathedral on Wenceslas Square in Olomouc, founded in 1107.
- In honor of St. Wenceslas is a three-nave Gothic church in Ostrava on Kostelni Street. The building of the end of the XIII century is one of the oldest and most important cultural and historical monuments of Ostrava.
- The three-nave St. Wenceslas Church in Prague on Stefankova Street is one of the most significant monuments of the Czech Neo-Renaissance, built between 1881 and 1885.
- St. Basilica Wenceslas, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, is the oldest architectural monument in the Prague district of Prosek.
- Gothic one-nave church of St. Wenceslas, located on the corner of Reslova and Dietrichova streets in the Prague district of Zderaz.
There are many more chapels and churches. Outside the Czech Republic, the most famous temple is the Polish Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas of 1020, erected in Krakow on Wawel Hill. This is a sacred object for the Polish people, a national cultural and historical monument, a traditional wedding and burial place of Polish kings.
The legend of the rebellious king
Since about the 15th century, one of the most beautiful legends of Bohemia has become popular in Czech lands. The army of knights buried under Mount Blanik wakes up from a dead sleep and, led by King Wenceslas, comes to the aid of the Czech people at an hour of extreme danger.
During the construction of the monument to St. Wenceslas in Prague from 1848 to 1922, a similar legend appeared in the capital. In the darkest times, when the country will be close to ruin, the equestrian statue of the patron of the Czech Republic on Wenceslas Square will come to life. The king will raise an army sleeping in Blahnik and lead it along. When Wenceslas crosses the Charles Bridge, the horse under him trips over a stone. At the same time, the legendary sword of Brunzwick, hidden in the support of the bridge, will be revealed. With this sword, Saint Wenceslas will destroy all the enemies of the Czech land, giving the state peace and prosperity.