St Wenceslas National Pilgrimage in Stará Boleslav

Every year, you can visit the biggest spiritual, cultural and
social event of Czech Statehood Day on September 28 in
Stará Boleslav, which is the oldest and most significant
place of pilgrimage in Bohemia.
This grand national pilgrimage with a spiritual, cultural and entertainment
programme lasting several days is launched with the festive
St Wenceslas Concert. This is traditionally held on September
27 in the Stará Boleslav Romanesque basilica consecrated to St
Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. On the eve of the pilgrimage,
a guard of honour from Prague Castle accompanies the skull
of St Wenceslas to Stará Boleslav. The programme on September
28 begins with a special pilgrimage mass on Mariánské Square
in Stará Boleslav. Taking part are leading state figures including
the Czech President and Prime Minister. The mass is taken by the
Archbishop of Prague. Every year, thousands of people come to
Stará Boleslav, where they can see its old churches – the churches
of the Assumption, St Wenceslas and St Clement. According to legend,
Prince Wenceslas was murdered on the order of his brother
Boleslav by the door of the Church of St Cosmas and St Damien,
which stood where the Church of St Wenceslas is now located. The
Nation Pilgrimage, however, is not only a religious event, as it also
includes many cultural experiences at a whole range of concerts
and theatre performances. There is also a fair, which is held in the
nearby forest park of Houštka. The pilgrimage is organised by the
Brandýs nad Labem – Stará Boleslav Town Council, the Archbishopric
of Prague, Czech Bishops Conference, the Capitulary of St
Cosmas and St Damien, Czech Christian Academy, the Office of the
Czech President and other institutions and civic associations. (kp)