Saint Wenceslaus
Saint Wenceslaus (born c. 907 AD in Stochov, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic); died September 28, 935 AD in Stará Boleslav, Bohemia) was the Duke of Bohemia who was martyred by his own brother Boleslaus I. He is the patron saint of the Czech Republic, and his name is known worldwide from the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas." His feast day is September 28, which is a national holiday of the Czech Republic.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Wenceslaus
| Saint Wenceslaus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 28 |
| Profession | Duke of Bohemia (c. 921–935 AD); martyr; patron of the Czech Republic; "Equal to the Apostles" in some Eastern traditions; first great patron of Czech national identity |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Bohemian church; Czech national Catholicism; 10th-century Slavic Christianity; principal patron of Bohemia and the Czech Republic |
| Patronage | Czech Republic; Bohemia; brewers (Czech brewing tradition); the Czech Crown; those who suffer for peaceful policies; rulers who choose Christian mercy over political violence |
| Attributes | Royal or ducal armor; a lance (the Holy Lance legend — he reportedly received a relic of the Lance of Longinus); the heraldic eagle of Bohemia; a church model; an iron ring (the door ring of Stará Boleslav); the equestrian statue above Wenceslaus Square |
| Birthplace | Stochov (or Libušín), Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) |
| Death Place | Stará Boleslav, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; stabbed to death by or at the instigation of his brother Boleslaus I on September 28, 935 AD (some accounts give 929 AD) at the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav; the murder was political (Boleslaus wanted power) as well as religiously motivated (the pagan party at court opposed Wenceslaus's Christian policies); he was killed while on his way to morning Mass; he died forgiving his brother; his brother Boleslaus subsequently transferred his relics to Prague, where they became the focus of an immediate and intense cult |
| Primary Shrine | Wenceslaus Chapel, Cathedral of Saint Vitus, Prague Castle — his relics; one of the most sacred spaces in Czech national identity; iron door-ring; September 28 feast observed as national holiday |
| Liturgical Class | Memorial (Roman Rite); September 28; National holiday in Czech Republic (Czech Statehood Day) |
| Historic Class | Double (September 28) in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Wenceslaus was born c. 907 AD in Bohemia. His grandmother, Saint Ludmila, raised him in the Christian faith. She was murdered on the orders of his pagan mother Drahomíra in 921 AD. He came to power as duke of Bohemia c. 921.
He was a devout Christian who built churches, ransomed captives, and sought peaceful relations with the Holy Roman Empire. He submitted as a vassal to Henry I of Germany — a decision that protected Bohemia through diplomacy rather than war but was politically controversial.
The pagan party at court, led by his brother Boleslaus, conspired against him. On September 28, 935 AD, Boleslaus invited Wenceslaus to his estate at Stará Boleslav for a feast; as Wenceslaus went to morning Mass the following day, he was attacked by Boleslaus and his companions and killed. He is said to have forgiven his brother before he died.
Boleslaus subsequently transferred Wenceslaus's relics to Prague in 938 AD, where an intense cult developed immediately.
He is the patron saint of the Czech Republic. September 28 (Czech Statehood Day) is a national holiday in his honor. The Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" has made his name known worldwide.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Stochov (or Libušín), Bohemia (modern Czech Republic)
Death location: Stará Boleslav, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic)
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Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Wenceslaus (Archdiocese of Baltimore) | Diocese of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | Maryland | United States | |
| St. Wenceslaus (Diocese of Bismarck) | Diocese of Bismarck | Dickinson, ND | North Dakota | United States | http://stwenceslausnd.com/ |
Media
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Wenceslaus Chapel, Cathedral of Saint Vitus, Prague Castle — his relics; spiritual heart of Czech Catholicism; September 28 national holiday.
- Stará Boleslav, Czech Republic — site of his martyrdom; active pilgrimage site.
Feast day
September 28 (Czech Statehood Day)
Veneration
Saint Wenceslaus, patron of the Czech Republic, was murdered by his brother Boleslaus I in 935 AD. His name is known worldwide from "Good King Wenceslas." His chapel in Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague, is the spiritual heart of Czech national Catholicism. Feast September 28.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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