Velehrad: The Cistercian Monastery with the Basilica of St. Cyril and St. Methodius

Velehrad is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Moravia. It is connected with the seat of Moravian rulers and with the place from which Christianity spread on the paths of Saints Cyril and Methodius. In the neighborhood of Velehrad, there used to be the metropolitan church of St. Methodius, which was where he was buried. Unfortunately, Hungarian raids destroyed many Great Moravian habitations of that time, so it is difficult to specify the exact site of the cathedral or the grave. The cult of the Slavonic apostles, who are the patrons of Europe together with St. Benedictus, makes Velehrad a place of great importance even beyond the borders of the Czech Republic.

Velehrad dates to the early 13th century, when the Moravian count Vladislav Jindrich, together with Saints Cyril and Methodius his brother King Premysl Otakar I, founded the first Cistercian monastery in Moravia. The first twelve Cistercians came to Velehrad in 1205 from Czech Plasy.
In the mid-13th century, construction of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the monastery in Romanesque-Gothic style was completed. The cathedral was a grand five-nave basilica. At 100 meters in length, it was the largest church in the Czech lands. The remains of the basilica have been preserved; on the eastern wall of the cathedral three out of five apses remain. A beautiful Romanesque frieze decorates the main apse and in the lapidary below the recent building, the Romanesque bases of the church are accessible.

In the 15th century, the Hussites burned down the monastery. In the following centuries it was rebuilt several times and at the turn of the 18th century it got its present-day look. The architect of the Baroque reconstruction is unknown, as are the artists who decorated the interior. Based on its style it has been attributed to Giovanni Pietro Tencalli. The sizeable Baroque facade complemented a pair of towers and a two-meter layer raises the floor of the cathedral.

In the period of the religious reforms of Joseph II, the Cistercian monastery was abolished and the famous basilica became a lowly village church. The church began to fall apart; the capitulary hall, decorated with marble columns, was used as a stable.

In connection with the millennium commemoration of Cyril and Methodius´s mission to Moravia in the second half of the 19th century, Velehrad was revived. In 1890, the Jesuits came to Velehrad. They have stayed there ever since, with the exception of the 40 years of communism, when the monastery was abolished. In 1927, Pope Pius IX upgraded the significance of Velehrad and gave the title “basilica minor” to the cathedral. In 1985, during the 1,100-year anniversary of St.Methodius' death, Pope John Paul II donated the Golden Rose to the basilica (only a few cathedrals all over the world have received this honor).

During his first visit to Czechoslovakia in 1990, the pope visited this place.

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Introduction

Early in school year 2005/2006 we joined the international project SOCRATES COMENIUS called „Benedictines and Cistercians- European Movements“.

The aim of this project was familiarisation with the cultural legacy of Europe, uderstanding of the rise of European culture based on christian principles, and improvement of language knowledge – English, German, French, and establishing of friendship between young people of Europe.

This year we visited the Benedictine monasteries in the Czech Republic (Rajhrad, Břevnov, Emauzy) and tried to find as much information as possible.

Our program culminated early in May 2006, when we visited Herxheim in Germany, our fellow project school.

Through this blog we want to share our experiences with you.

Why do you want to take part in the Socrates Project?

I ´ve decided to participate because I´m interested in history and sights. Moreover, I like travelling, learning about new cultures and its habits.

Pavlína Nováková, Sexta

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I ´ve decided to join this Project because I ´m keen on learning new facts. Besides, I love travelling so it´ll be pleasure for me.

Markéta Stehlíková, 1.B

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This Project gives me a good chance to learn some new information about things and personalities significant in our history. Also I ´ve been given an opportunity to visit various places. What I appreciate most is that we are an only czech team in the Socrates Project.

Petr Sládek, Sexta

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I want to take part because of the chance to meet new people and places. The main reason is that I think I could get useful experiences for my life.

Jakub Zubatý, Sexta

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Why have I chosen this Project? At first, I think it is a unique opportunity and then I´m happy it is a German Project. When I talked it over with Mr Jamný who told me all the conditions and also the reward – trip to Germany - I couldn´t admit. Actually, I would like to take the school leaving exam from German so that I need to improve my knowledges. And I think, this is the best chance to do that.

Pavlína Martinková, 2.B

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I ´d like to participate because of my interests in history and former life style. Moreover, I would like to see some new places in Czech Republic as well as abroad.

Barbora Bušová, Sexta

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The aim of this Project

• becoming educated in the topic of European culture heritage
• realizing that the cultural Europe develop from Christian basics
• recognizing the architecture of sacred buildings
• knowing the big names of orders working by us
• improving the language skills- English, French and German
• meeting new friends from all over the Europe, suppress racial prejudice and religious intolerance

The plan of the Socrates Project for years 2005 - 2008

• Visit of benedictional and cistertional abbeyes
• Creation of map including marks of places where the well knowned personalities having influence on expansion of european culture worked
• Creation of web sides
• Exhibition in honour of finalizing the first year of the Project
• Visit of Herxheim
• The architecture of monasteries, Significant European artists working by us, Personalities working in Germany and France
• Importance of Hildegarda Bingen ( Environmental protection, activity as a healer, ecological agriculture)
• Monk´s farming and their products
• The Exhibition in honour of finalizing the second year of the Project
• European meeting of schools in Strážnice
• Monk ś life, their work, social role and their importance for current society
• Working on the overall compilation, translation into German and English
• Exhibition in honour of finalizing the third year of the Project
• Visit of France

Spreading of Benedictine order

Alone Benedict hasn’t knowingly spread his religion, except for monasteries, which he had established himself (14). Monks following Benedictine rule had however spread quickly to whole Europe, especially therefore, that they were acting like a missionaries. In 9th century Benedictines were the only order, because of the fact that practised monastic life in the whole western Europe except for Scotland, Wales and Ireland, where Celtic customs persisted for another two hundred years.

The Benedictine order had never been so strong in the Eastern countries as in the west. At any rate Czech and Poles are partially bound to Benedictine missionaries for their transition to Christianity.

Benedictines in Bohemia

The Beginning of the church orders in our country are linked with propagation of Christianity in early Middle Ages during reign of the Přemyslides.

The Convents

In the early 70’s of the 10th century prince Boleslav II founded cloister of Benedictine nuns at the st.Georges on the Prague castle - the very first cloister in our country. The firts abbess was Boleslav‘s sister Mlada.

Another convents of Benedictine nurses were founded around the year 1160 in Teplice and in 40’s of 14th century in Moravian Pustiměř and in the Old city of Prague. Only the st.Georges cloister survived the 16th century, however in 1782 was closed down. In 1889 the Monastery of Beuronian Benedictine nuns at st.Gabriel in Prague at the Smíchov part, was founded however this was abandoned after year 1918 and since the time Benedictine nurses hasn’t been working in our country.

The Monasteries

Prague – Břevnov = the first male Benedictian monastery in our country, it was also set by Boleslav II with bishop st.Vojtěch in 993. In 1322 there was build a provostry in Broumov, which has became place of refunge for people from Březnov at time of Hussite wars. Present form of Břevnov is from years 1818-20, architects were K.&K.I. Dientzenhofers, P.Brandl and P. I. Bayer.

In year 1950 Břevnov monastery was cleared out by STB (National Security), monks were transported to Broumov and activity of convent was prohibited. From 1990 gradual reconstruction began of the monastery.

Other Czech Beneditine monasteries developed below direct fluence of monastery in Baravian Niederaltaich.

Cloister on island near Davle was set in 10th century ; it was plundered several times and burnt, there were many intensions to reconstruct it till 1517, when convent resettled to close st. John‘s Provostry unther the based around year 1310. In 1785 convent was closed down, monastery‘s campus was bought by count Špork and he had installed textile manufactury here.

Cloister in Opatovice nad Labem was erected between 1086 and 87, and it was subordinated to monastery in Břevnov. In year 1421 it was burnt by Hussites and monks had never returned here. In 1535 last abbot from Opatovice died and history of monastery ends.

Cloister in Sázava was founded in 1032 by st.Prokop. The Old Church Slavonic liturgy was breed here, however in 1096 it was replaced by Latin liturgy, Old Church Slavonic monks were driven out and replaced by Bendictines from Břevnov. Cloister was cracking up and in 1746 burned down. However baroque reconstruction according to K.I. Dientzenhofer was performed.
In 1785 the emperor Joseph II closed the cloister down. Since 1951 is in property of state.

Cloister in Třebíč was placed in year 1101 by Moravian Přemyslides.

Cloister in Rajhrad near Brno was founded by prince Břetislav in 1048 as provostry subordinated to Březnov, in the time of Hussites wars it was a place of refuge for Břevnov monks. In 1813 provostry in Rajhrad was promoted to detached abbey.
After 1950 local monks were diffused and in cloister military warehouse was installed. In 1957 cloister was settled again by religious monks and proceed his slow reconstruction.

Cloister in Kladruby was founded by prince Vladislav I with his woman Richenza from Berg. In 1711 began reconstruction according to project of J.B.Santini and it was completed after year 1756 on schedules of K.I. Dientzenhofer.. In 1785 cloister was shutted down by Joseph II. And after purchase by prince Q.Windischgratze was changed into mansion.

Cloister in Vilémov was founded in 1121 by counts Heřman and Vilém from Sulzbach, in 1421 it was destroyed by Hussites. In 1541 in Rajhrad died the last abbot from Vilémov – Peter.

Cloister in Postoloprty was set between 1119 and 1121. In 1420 it was burnt by Hussites and it wasn’t renovated again. Monks had gone to Benedictine cloister in saxon Kamenice.

Cloister in Podlažice was placed in year 1160.

Broumov – in 1213 Přemysl Otakar I gave him to Benedictines from Břevnov and before 1322 he developed there provostry subordinated to Břevnov.In Hussites times it was place of refuge Břevnov‘s monks (abbey Břevnov had two residences). In 1939 both monasteries isolated were. Present Broumov form comes from 18th century, when Břevnov and Broumov were restructured by K. I. Dientzenhofer.

Cloister Na Slovanech (Emauzy) was founded in 1347 by emperor Charles IV as monastery with Slavonic liturgy. In 1426 majority of monks had to go away and in Emauzy utracvistic consistory was installed. In 19th century monastery was destroyed... In 1880 some monks came there. They were driven out of German convent Beuron and they decorated monastery in own romantic revival fashion, also called Beuron art school.

In 1950 monastery was cleared out, after year 1990 monks from Emauzy had lived in Břevnov and in 1995 they moved back .

Beside monasteries have here existed provosteries, too – filial houses subordinated to individual abbeys, for example in Police nad Metují, Kostelec nad Vltavou, Klášterská Lhota, Přelouč, Komárov u Brna, Klášterec nad Ohří.

The Břevnov Monastery

On February 14 we visited the Břevnov Monastery in Prague, one of the 254 still working monasteries. The Břevnov Monastery is the oldest male monastery in our country. It was founded by bishop Vojtěch who came here to spread Christianity. In 992 the first 12 monks arrived from the Italian monastery Monte Cassino.

The official date of the foundation and solemn consecrating was January 14, 993 and soon it became very important. After 1344 it was no longer under the Mainz archbishopric and a Saxon monk Dětmar was chosen to be the first bishop. During its history one of the bishops was also Saint Vojtěch who was practising a missionary work after the massacre of his family in 995.
The centre of the monastery is formed by a pre-romanesque Church of Saint Margaret built around the year of 1040 which counts among the most valuable pre-romanesque sights in the Czech Republic and is opened for public now.

During the Hussite wars the monastery and the church were seriously damaged and were rebuilt gradually in Baroque style according to the plan of Kryštof Dienzenhofer. The altarpieces were painted by a famous baroque painter Petr Brandl.

However, the monastery experienced really hard times in the 20th century. Being confiscated by the communist power in 1950 as many other monasteries it went to wreck and ruin. The abbot Anastáz Opasek was unjustly accused of spreading obscurantist ideology and spent whole 50s in jail. With the help of state and foreign monasteries they managed to rebuild it for a millennium of its existence in 1993. On this occasion the pope gave it an honourable title – archabbey. In 1997 Pope John Paul II visited monks of the Břevnov Monastery personally. There have been many repairs since 1999 when a new abbot - Prokop Siostrzonek - was elected.

Except the main mission – living according to the Rule – monks also spend time taking care of the Church of Saint Margaret and the Church of Virgin Mary Victorious on the White Mountain. There is a guide available for visitors and since 1998 the archabbey has released a few books aimed to inform about the monastery life. The representative halls of the monastery are used for special social events – concerts, lectures, presentations and so on.

The Monastery of Emauzy

The Monastery of Emauzy was founded in 1347 by the Czech emperor Charles IV. It was the only monastery with Slavonic liturgical language in the western part of the Charles Empire. The intention of the emperor was to make the relationship among Slavonic tribes stronger and he tried to make up the argument between the Western and Eastern Churches.

The monastery with the church were finished and solemnly consecrated by the archbishop Očko z Vlašimi on March 29, 1372. The origin of the monastery name is unknown. However, there are two theories: Firstly, on that day the Gospel about the appointment of Christ with his Disciples in Emauzy was read. Secondly, once, there was a derelict residence called Emmahaus (the house of Ema). There used to live a Czech Princess, Ema, the daughter of the Burgundy king Konrad.
During the Hussite wars the abbot supported the Utraquists so that the monastery could not be destroyed. Having accepted special precautions the monastery survived also the time of Enlightenment.

After 1880 during the so-called Beuron period the monastery was repaired and rebuilt. The Beuron Art School and the Religious Singing Center were founded by a new abbot from Beuron (south Germany).

In 1918 the Benedictines were forced to leave Czechoslovakia. Only one third stayed there. Generally WWII was a very difficult period for whole Europe. In 1942 the monastery was closed down and the monks were dispersed. At the end of the war the church was destroyed during an American air strike.

After the war in 1950s the buildings were repaired and became the seat of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. A part of the monks lived abroad. In 1964 the roof and two towers of the church were rebuilt in a very modern style. The construction is 4 m high and 1,3 kg of gold was used to gild the spires.

During one of the many reconstructions fragments of murals were discovered. The inscription was written in Croatian Glagolic – the only one and unique evidence of glagolic epigraphy in our country or even in the western Slavonic countries.

On October 1, 1990 the monastery and the church were restored back to life by monks from Benedict’s birthplace – Nocie. Since then the church and the monastery have been used for religious purposes.

The Rule of Saint Benedict (Regula Benedicti)

The Rule of Saint Benedict is a basic work of Benedictine Order. There are main rules and instructions which monks have to keep during their life´s pilgrimage. Many chapters of this book concentrate on rights and duties of monks, moreover we can find there a kind of religious polemics. It also gives practical advice about the monastery life organisation and at the same time it presents a life in the past which followed completely different rules than the life today.
However, this document is also very important from another point of view – we can learn much about everyday life of monks. According to the Benedictine motto – Ora et labora – making the monastery economically independent means finding a source of income – work on the fields of a monastery.

Except this work monks also have to spend some time praying and reading. Furthermore, Benedict advices are aimed to inform monks about the quantity and timing of food. He also mentioned such an important thing as the style of clothing. It is influenced mainly by the weather conditions but there are two things that all types of clothes have in common: moderation and low price.

In other parts of the book there are chapters dealing with the day organisation, recruitment of new monks, guests, the course of Mass but also offences and punishments. The Rule is the basic document for life of today´s monks but reading this can be useful for readers who don´t live in a monastery: you can learn a lot and it can offer you a different view of the world.

The Benedictine Order

Monasticism

Actually, what is monasticism? We can define it as a life which is lived according to the Holy Scripture and following the example of Jesus Christ. The earliest form of monasticism was practised by ancient ascetics. Among these first hermits there was a movement which directly led to the proper monasticism of a solitary type. Leaving the parish they became real monks.
After the 4th century many colonies of hermits started to live in the monasteries. This is the time when most of the religious orders were formed. The Benedictine Order experienced real halcyon days in early Middle Ages while taking part in Christianisation, colonisation and dissemination of knowledge.

According to Benedict the monasticism is the life under the leadership of an abbot and the Rule. The most important points of the Rule are obedience, hearing and silence. With the help of his motto “Ora et labora” Benedict reorganised the monastery life.

Benedict of Norcie

The first biography of Benedict was written by Pope Gregor the Great whose sources were 4 men who had known Benedict personally.

Benedict lived between the years 480 and 543. We don´t know much about his origin but it is sure that he came from a noble family. He studied grammar and rhetoric in Rome but he didn´t finish it. Later he chose a way of loneliness and left Subiaka for Rome. Living a hard life in a cave he lost touch with people and even didn´t know when to celebrate Easter. After 3 years of living in the cave a few monks came to persuade him to become their abbot – this was a really important turning point in his life.

Benedict found a derelict monastery and with the help of other monks he rebuilt it gradually. Giving a special stress on life according to the Rule he wasn´t very popular among his monks. After a failed attempt to poison him he left the monastery and went back to the cave. In a few weeks some men came and watched his way of life. Finally they founded 12 small monasteries.
Being accused of having not enough education for such an important post he left Subiaka and went down in southern direction. He founded a new monastery called Monte Cassino which was a source of inspiration for other benedictine monasteries.

Manual work became a common part of the life in monastery besides praying, contemplation and studying. Benedict knew exactly the day of his death but he wasn´t dying alone.

The Rajhrad Abbey

History of the closter

In Rajhrad there is the oldest cloister in the area of Moravia. It has been established by Prince Břetislav in 1084. In 1813 it was established as The Rajhrad Abbey.

First notes about contemporary Rajhrad originate from 13. century. Since 14. century beer has been produced in Rajhrad. In 1465 vineyard was planted out and later it became a symbol of the Rajhrad emblem.

Till the end of the 17. century the cloister had Romanesque look. Because of the bad condition it was rebuilt. Two new towers were added. Between 1721 and 1730 the cloister was rebuilt again according to G. Santni-Aichle´s project.

The K Action - leaded by the comunistic party in 1950 - stopped function of the holy orders in Czechoslovakia. The comunistic party attacked the cloister and occupied it. They wanted to close Rajhrad church as well, but thank the rural people they didn´t manage to abolish the tradition.
In 1990 the cloister was given back to the order of the benedictines. It was in terrible condition.

Living in the cloister

The first monks were hard working (second part of the duty of the order : Ora et labora! labora = work). They cleared the woods, or worked as joiners. They taught religious education, history and philology and they translated books. The monks collected paintings by the famous authors, such as Rembrandt, Van Dyk etc. Most of the paintings were copies. They also owned mostrances, reliquaries, chalices and other artifacts.

The monasterial library

The library has existed since the establishment of the cloister. It contained lectionaries (used for reading during the mess) and missals (contain prayers, that priest says).

During the 13. century the cloister was devastated by Tartars and the Hapsburg army.

Martyrologium Adonis - the oldest book of Rajhrad . In 14. century the library was enriched of gradual and antiphonary. In 15. century the cloister was visited by Marek of Broumov - accuser of John Huss.

Viktor Schlossar - librarian, the library was visited by Josef Dobrovský and František Palacký, when he kept it.

After the WW1 the library got over thousand Russian and other Slavonic books and magazines thank Augustin Vazal. During the WW2 the library was damaged. In 1950 it had to be reconstructed. Nowadays the library contains 65 000 books.

St. Peter´s and St. Paul´s cathedral

St. Peter´s and St. Paul´s cathedralis situated on the place, where once a Romanesque cathedral was. Its construction began in spring of 1722. In the frontage there were two impressive towers, which were 65 meters high. Today these towers don’t exist. New towers were built in 1942.

During the reconstruction of the cloister the towers tumbled because of a strong storm and wind. A gable between the towers is decorated by the mosaic of Immaculate Conception.
The cathedral has one nave; the windows are very high up. The vault of the nave has four domes, which are more than 30 meters high. The interior of the cathedral is decorated by many statues and frescos with biblical motifs. In the nave there are eight side altars. Around the cloister there are beautiful gardens and alleys.

The cloister nowadays

After 1950 this monumental building was very omitted. Cloisters are in very bad condition. In 1997 monks came again into the cloister and slow reconstruction began. The cloister is regularly used for divine services. Outhouses of the cloister are not in good condition. About 80 % of them are unusable, because they are only ruins. The gardens are devastated, the only care given them, is cutting of the grass.

The cloister has a big significance, nevertheless it is still forgotten. In Rajhrad there was found an organization called Ora et Labora, which makes an effort for reconstruction of the cloister.

St. George’s Basilica

About 920

St. George’s Basilica was founded on one of the highest places of the castle premises, almost in the middle of the fortified area. The findings of the oldest masonry do not convey a clear idea of its appearance at that time (920). However, the building probably used to be a more-naved (cathedral) basilica.

In 973 the oldest convent for Benedictine nuns was founded and Mlada, sister of the ruling Prince Boleslav II, became the abbess of the convent. On the occasion of her appointment, the church was enlarged and reconstructed. A part of the masonry has been preserved in the southern aisle and under the southern steeple. A thorough reconstruction was carried out after the devastating fire in 1142.

During this reconstruction (builder Wernherus) the basilica almost got its present appearance, e.g. triple-naved building with two steeples at the eastern end of the both side aisles (the southern steeple was built over the chapel that was originally independent). The eastern end is made of quadratic chorus with the main apse under which the crypt with cross vaulting without stripes on the columns is situated. A similar embedded vaulted room used to be also on the western side.

Another building work was carried out in the first half of the 13th century, in the second half of the 14th century, at the beginning of the 16th century and at the end of the 17th century, during the years 1718-22. The basilica was being reconstructed during the years 1887-1908 when the architectonical details and large parts of the masonry (for example both the stone steeple helmets) were modified. As far as the original equipment is concerned, only three parts of the relief from the first half of the 13th century with Madonna sitting on a throne and being crowned by angels. There are also abbesses Mlada (the founder of the convent) and Berta (the restorer) kneeling next to Madonna. King Premysl Otakar I and abbess Agnes, his sister, are depicted on sides. St. Ludmila´s chapel was added to the southern side of the chorus during the life of abbess Agnes during the Romanesque stage.

Mlada

Mlada was a daughter of the distinguished Premyslid Prince Boleslav I and his wife Biagota. She was born between the year 930 and 935. There is not much information available about her life, the same case as with many other persons from that time. Nearly all the written sources are of sacred origin: “She is well-educated at the Holy Writ, devoted to Christian religion and decorated with virtuous manners” as Kosmas wrote in his chronicle, she was determined to divine services. All the events in her life are connected with the Church.

At that time, the Christianity had been present in Bohemia for a short time. Mlada´s father, Boleslav I, represented only the third generation of the Christians in Bohemia; in spite of this fact (or that is why?) he made his daughter to serve God from her early childhood. Mlada got a good education – reading, writing, Latin – which was a luxury at that time. She probably studied in Regensburg, but maybe also in Rome or Bohemia.

At the beginning of the 60s of the 10th century, she was sent to Rome to Pope Jan XIII to negotiate the establishment of the first monastic order in Bohemia and probably also the establishment of the independent diocese in Prague. It was not only the clerical matter; it was also of great importance for the power politics. At that time and by means of invasion, Boleslav I turned the Premyslid principality into a huge state. That is why he needed the support of the Church to consolidate his power. Moreover, Bohemia was controlled by the bishopric in Regensburg, not only as far as the religious matters are concerned, of course. The religious and administrative independence would thus be of a great importance for the Premyslid principality.
Therefore, Mlada´s journey to Rome was also partly a diplomatic mission that cannot be conducted by any person. Even the journey to Italy itself was very dangerous and physically demanding. We would like to point out that in that time Europe was one huge forest where the settlement meant a few clearings surrounded by the wilderness. Moreover, the ways as such did not exist, the ways of that time simply represented the idea of where to go. Mlada´s intelligence and eloquence must have impressed the Pope in Rome very much because in 967 she returned home as an ordained abbes. She wanted to become a nun that is why she stayed in the Roman convent of St. Agnes where she was ordained as nun Marie. In 970, she became abbess in St. Benedict order. The order had its seat in the new convent of St. George in Prague, which was the convent in Bohemia. The establishment of the convent was of cultural and social importance. The convents in general were centres of education and art. Moreover, this one served also as a refuge for single and persecuted women.

The bishopric in Prague was established during Mlada´s life (973), partly also thanks to her activities. Mlada died in 994. She was about 60 – at quite a high age at that time and she was buried in Marian chapel. The first wife of Boleslav II and other two abbesses – Anežka and Kunhuta – are buried there too.

Many centuries later, in 1673 (1675) her well-preserved relics were exhumed with the accompaniment of Loretto litanies and Czech songs and they were placed into the niche where they are still remaining. According to these relics, the silver mask of her face was made. This mask is said to have “a determined expression” which corresponds with the image of this strong and energetic woman.

Saint Vojtěch

• his name means „he who brings consolation and reinforcement“
• he was born about the year 956 in Libice
• belonged to the Slavnik´s dynasty

It is believed, that his clerical career began thanks to his parents. When Vojtěch fell ill during his childhood, his parents promised his clerical education in case of his cure. He studied in Magdeburg (972 – 981). He took on the name Vojtěch Adalbert on his confirmation. On 19 February 982 he became the Bishop of Prague.

He required clerics to observe celibacy; he fought against the pagan hangover in society and against the polygamy. However his struggle was not approved by Boleslaus II. Because of disagreements with Boleslaus II he left Bohemia and resigned from his bishop cloths and went to Rome to Pope John XV.

In year 992 Boleslaus I asked Vojtěch to come back. Vojtěch founded the first Benedictine monastery in Břevnov near Prague (the first one for men in our country). In 994 Vojtěch left his homeland definitively, but a year later Boleslaus II had the whole Slavnik´s dynasty in Libice murdered and the only surviving members of the family were Vojtěch and his brother Soběslav. That is why Vojtěch decided to return to his homeland, but on his way home he found out that he is not welcomed in Bohemia, so he stayed at the court of Boleslaus I the Brave in Poland and became a missionary in Prussia.

On 23 April 997 Vojtěch and his fellows were attacked by the Prussians. His fellows were released but Vojtěch was killed by a spear, his head was cut off and his body was skewered on a stick. Boleslaus I the Brave bought his body back and buried it in Gniezdno. In 999 Vojtěch was canonized by Pope Silvestre III.

In 1053 Břetislav I retrieved the remains of Saint Vojtěch and moved them in Prague.
Both in the Czech Republic and in Poland saint Vojtěch is benefited as a regional patron saint. He is considered to be an author of the Czech and Polish religious hymn „Hospodine, pomiluj ny“ or „ Boqurodzica“.

Saint Vojtěch is depicted as a bishop with a palm sprig, with an implement of martyrdom – an oar, a spear and a halberd, also with scales, a rose on the shield, a mitre, a crosier and a book.