National pilgrimage to St. Wenceslaus
Stará Boleslav is a place closely connected with the destiny of the Czech nation. In connection with the sacrifice of Saint Prince Wenceslaus, its spiritual and political strength rises here. Here we stand by the roots of the Christian culture that have formed the Czech nation for centuries, by the beginning of the Czech statehood as well as the integration into the union of other nations of Central Europe. A thousand years of the nation's history are connected with our greatest Christian saints and personalities of the Czech history right in Stará Boleslav, the oldest place of pilgrimage in Bohemia that has been for centuries called a spiritual centre of the country.
Pilgrimage tradition in Stará Boleslav was interrupted many times due to history splits in Bohemia but thanks to the Stará Boleslav canonry of Ss. Cosmas and Damian it was always reestablished. As of the 17th century it grew to the new glory in a tradition of devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary mainly thanks to contributions of Jesuits, Premonstrates, and Redemptorists. Latest interruptions that affected the pilgrimage tradition in Stará Boleslav for decades were totalitarian regimes of the 20th century.
The first renewed National Pilgrimage to St. Wenceslaus took place in 2003 as a common activity of the town Brandýs nad Labem – Stará Boleslav and the Archdiocese of Prague. Foundation work of individuals was supported with a wide cooperation of institutions – towns, churches, army, television, and many other civic activities. This cooperation in a spirit of fulfilment and development of "fathers' heritage" is an evidence and premise of the viability of the National Pilgrimage to St. Wenceslaus and a manifestation of unity in a common Christian spiritual tradition.
The central point of the pilgrimage is a concelebrated pilgrim mass on the open scene in the historical centre of the town, overseeing both sanctuaries. The mass is celebrated by the Archbishop of Prague and Primate of Bohemia and participated by other Czech and Moravian bishops and the apostolic nuncio. This main spiritual event, which is always broadcasted live on TV, is accompanied by many spiritual and cultural activities. Already the evening before, the feast starts with Solemn St. Wenceslaus' Concert and vespers in the basilica of St. Wenceslaus. Every year the most precious relic, Cranium of St. Wenceslaus from the St. Vitus' cathedral in Prague, is brought to the place where this saint was martyred, and it is accompanied by the Castle Guards of the Prague Castle with honours that belong to the king. Every year's part of the cultural program is a cathedral concert of the Music of the Castle Guards. The program is finished by a traditional procession of Prince Wenceslaus that is very popular among pilgrims. Prince Wenceslaus with his companions rides a white horse in a torch light through Stará Boleslav to finish the feast day.
During the last seven years, the National Pilgrimage to St. Wenceslaus has become a main activity of the celebration of the Day of Czech Statehood and the most important spiritual activity in Bohemia. It is very attractive for pilgrims looking for the deepness of the St. Wenceslaus' tradition as well as for visitors looking for its state and civic dimensions. It offers to pilgrims of all generations everything that has always belonged to pilgrimages – cultural program and folk entertainment. It is a gathering to a joyous celebration in a wide community which today stands in the centre of interest of political and state representatives; it is an important event with a large public acceptance and it gets a lot of attention from mass media.
(Milan Novák)